Rus' Khaganate

The Rus' Khaganate was a late 6th to early 8th-century political entity in Eastern Europe, believed to be an early state associated with the ancestors of the East Slavs and Varangians (Vikings). It served as a regional power that facilitated trade and cultural exchange between Scandinavia, Byzantium, and Slavic peoples. Although details remain unclear, the Khaganate's existence reflects the complex interactions and foundations of early Russian history, functioning as a transitional political organization before the rise of more established states like Kievan Rus'.