51. Vikings: Slavs to Slaves

In this episode of Empire, Anita Arnon and William Durham interview Cat Jarman, archaeologist and author of "River Kings," about the Viking slave trade and its connections to the East. The discussion begins with William's personal experience at a Viking excavation site in Repton, Derbyshire, leading into a broader conversation about how scientific archaeology, particularly advancements in analyzing human bones and DNA, is reshaping our understanding of the Vikings. Jarman challenges the popular image of Vikings as solely Western raiders, highlighting the significance of Eastern trade routes, especially the river systems connecting Scandinavia to Byzantium and the Islamic world, where slaves were a key commodity. The hosts and Jarman explore the brutal realities of Viking slavery, including ritual sacrifices, the treatment of female slaves, and the trade dynamics involving the Rus, Khazars, and the Arab world, while also touching on the acknowledgment of the slave trade in Scandinavian societies and the prevalence of slavery in Anglo-Saxon England.