Varangians

The Varangians were a group of Norse warriors and traders, primarily from Scandinavia, who played a significant role in Eastern European history from the 8th to the 11th centuries. They are best known for establishing trade routes and settlements along rivers in modern-day Russia and Ukraine, where they connected the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The Varangians contributed to the formation of Kievan Rus', a precursor to modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, and influenced the region's culture and politics through trade, military might, and interaction with local Slavic tribes.