Scandinavians from the island of Gotland began to spread throughout the Baltic region along the Russian rivers in the 700s. While the Vikings of Norway and Denmark from the 8th to 11th centuries are widely recognized as fearsome raiders and colonists, Gotlander traders were as much warriors as businessmen and advanced into new areas via fortified outposts.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1980/trade--warfare-in-the-kievan-rus/.