Early medieval Old Prussian strongholds in the Vistula estuary region: a symbol of the region's power and economy
The participation of the Slavs and Scandinavians in the formation of the early medieval economy of Central and Northern Europe, as well as the trade routes connecting Europe with the Middle East, has already been discussed many times. Western Balts also had their share in this system, they fortified the trade routes with a network of strongholds that served not so much a military function as an economic one. As with Slavic sites, the function of at least some of the Prussian strongholds may need to be reviewed. Archaeological evidence, as well as the specifics of these sites, may suggest that these places served two purposes: taxation and trade.
