From Spain to China and Don't Forget to Say Hi to the Vikings

In the 9th century people didn’t have Amazon so they used Jews instead.

During the Early Middle Ages, the Muslim states of MENA and the Christian kingdoms of Europe often banned each other's merchants from using their ports.

Enter the Radhanites (or Radanim in Hebrew), a group of Jewish merchants who could deliver anything to anywhere. Active from the 8th to the 10th century, these trailblazers were the unsung heroes of globalization during one of the darkest ages of humanity.

Need spices from India? Done. Fine silk from China? Delivered. Amber from the Baltics or swords from Spain? No problem.

The Radhanites traversed deserts, seas, and mountain ranges connecting civilizations in a way that was unseen since the glory days of the Roman Empire. Fluent in Arabic, Persian, Greek, Latin, Slavic languages, and even a sprinkle of Chinese, these polyglot peddlers could haggle with merchants all over the world.

Their routes stretched from Western Europe to China and India, weaving through Baghdad, Constantinople, Egypt, and the distant steppes. They didn’t just trade goods—they traded ideas, spreading knowledge of different cultures, technologies, and cuisines in a time most people weren’t sure there was a world outside their village.

Their contributions to global economy were extraordinary. By linking the Islamic Caliphates, the Christian kingdoms, and even the Tang dynasty in China, the Radhanites fostered a level of international trade that made the medieval world surprisingly interconnected. They were living proof that commerce transcends borders and religious divides.

Unusually, their Jewish identity worked in their favor, as they were trusted intermediaries between several cultures and religions who preferred to bicker rather than to barter.

Though the Radhanites faded into obscurity in the early 10th century, their legacy endured for centuries. Amazing how far can a little multilingualism and a lot of chutzpah go.

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