Рет қаралды 43,005
Around 568 they established a large Avar Empire with Pannonia as their centre. Thus, most of the Slavic regions came under Avar rule. Spreading in the direction of Volga and Dnepr, they reached Bulgar and Caspian provinces, descended to the Black Sea and came into contact with the Slavs there. Thanks to their commercial activities, they established close relations with Byzantium. Some of them later served in Byzantium as mercenaries. These soldiers were called Varegians. They actually formed the origin of today's Russia.