Thread by @folkloristan

Mariam: the mysterious astronomer from Aleppo in #VikingsValhalla
Let's talk about the relations between the Vikings and the Abbasids.

The Vikings and the Abbasids were two very different civilizations that existed on opposite sides of the world. The Vikings were seafaring people from Northern Europe, while the Abbasids were a Muslim dynasty that ruled over the Islamic empire from the 8th to the 13th century.

While the Vikings and the Abbasids never had direct contact, their cultures did intersect through trade. The Vikings brought furs, amber, and slaves to the Abbasid empire. They traded these goods for luxury items such as silk, spices, and gold.

Abbasids controlled trade routes that connected the Islamic world to Asia, Africa, and Europe. They traded goods such as textiles, ceramics, metalwork, glassware, and agricultural products such as grains, fruits, and sugar, as well as spices, perfumes, and precious stones.

Whilst there is evidence of Viking traders travelling to the Muslim world, trade between Vikings and the Abbasids relied heavily on intermediaries, particularly the Byzantines and the Khazars.

This is primarily because the Vikings were not known for long-distance trade. Moreover, the Vikings also impacted the Islamic world through their raids on coastal towns and cities.

Some Muslim cities and towns invaded by the Vikings include Seville and Lisbon in Spain, which were attacked by the Vikings in the 9th century. Al-Andalus was raided and plundered by the Vikings in the 10th century. Tunis was also attacked by the Vikings in the 9th century.

Despite the Vikings' reputation as fierce warriors, the Abbasid armies did fend off their attacks and maintain control over their territories. Viking raids eventually declined in the 10th century due to internal conflicts and the rise of more powerful European kingdoms.

We'll wrap up this thread with a movie recommendation: 13th Warrior, which happens to be one of our favourite takes on relations between the Abbasids, the Rus, and the Vikings.