The Vikings
Traders, Goods, Money
Some Vikings set up an extensive network of trading partners. Instead of robbing, they traded. In Russia, they met with Chinese and Persian traders who brought spices and silk and amber from China and the Byzantine Empire to trade for Viking weapons, furs, woolen cloth, eiderdown quilts, walrus ivory, salt, and cod. Wine was imported from France and Germany.
Most Vikings did not use coinage. Instead they used pieces of silver or gold. They carried little scales with them to measure weight accurately. Much trade was bartered.
It was expensive to own ships to use for trading. Although Viking longboats were very well built, ships could be lost at sea or attacked by pirates. Usually, ship owners started out rather wealthy. If they were not wealthy to begin with, many became wealthy, or even more wealthy, through trade. As towns grew, so did the demand for luxury goods. As marketplaces gained in importance, goods were sold to merchants, who then resold these wares in the marketplace.
Viking Looting - another way to get rich