I've been thinking about that lately, how, if you count the Normans, the Scandinavians have a system in 1000 from Kiev (and trade to Constantinople and Baghdad, not to mention the Varangian Guard) up through the Baltic to Iceland and Greenlands, down to Ireland and Normandy, and then around to Sicily. In 970 or so the Rus attacked Constantinople in the Black Sea, and in 1050 or so the Normans were seriously threatening Byzantium. It's not hard to imagine the Scandinavian world completing a circle of influence that would rival the greatest empires of the world in scope (though composed of many independent peoples).
Well they /did/ find Vinland. Had that gone better, one could imagine extending down to the St. Lawrence river and treating it like that did the Rivers of Ukraine/Russia (sail as far as you can, then portage and build cities). Then find the Mississippi ...
Not as far as we know, but ... probably eventually they would have. Smallpox was certainly endemic in Viking populations.
Also, the Vikings in the Rus did pretty well trading with the Finno-Ugric peoples, so one shouldn't assume that the Vinland model of conflict with the skraelings had to prevail.
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Date: 2006-05-09 05:02 pm (UTC)(Dublin and Kiev, capitals, both founded by Vikings).
Vikings
Date: 2006-05-09 05:42 pm (UTC)B
Re: Vikings
Date: 2006-05-09 05:48 pm (UTC)Re: Vikings
Date: 2006-05-09 05:50 pm (UTC)B
Re: Vikings
Date: 2006-05-09 05:52 pm (UTC)Re: Vikings
Date: 2006-05-09 05:53 pm (UTC)Unless...did the Vikings bring smallpox with them?
B
Re: Vikings
Date: 2006-05-09 06:10 pm (UTC)Also, the Vikings in the Rus did pretty well trading with the Finno-Ugric peoples, so one shouldn't assume that the Vinland model of conflict with the skraelings had to prevail.
Re: Vikings
Date: 2006-05-09 06:12 pm (UTC)B