The Frisians inhabited the marshy coastlands between the Rhine and Weser, a landscape of tidal flats, barrier islands, and waterlogged soil that discouraged Roman conquest and kept other Germanic peoples at bay. They lived in scattered settlements built on artificial mounds - terps - raised above flood levels, each housing extended families who farmed the limited arable land but derived most wealth from the sea. Frisian society centered on maritime skills. Every able man knew how to handle boats, read tides, and navigate coastal waters. Their distinctive flat-bottomed vessels could sail open seas yet navigate shallow channels and tidal flats where other ships ran aground. This gave Frisians control over coastal trade routes connecting the North Sea to interior rivers. They transported Frankish goods northward, Baltic amber and furs southward, English tin and wool across the channel. Salt production from coastal brine added another export. Frisian merchants appeared wherever northern maritime trade flourished, recognized by their distinctive boats and trading practices.
These centuries saw Frisian influence expand beyond their marshy homeland as trade networks grew. Frankish conquests disrupted old Roman routes, creating opportunities for those who controlled alternative pathways. Frisian merchants established trading posts along river routes - at Dorestad on the Rhine, Utrecht, and other strategic locations where rivers met sea lanes. These settlements became prosperous centers where Frankish silver bought northern goods. Frisian ships ranged farther - to England's east coast, up Baltic waterways, even occasionally into Atlantic waters. Christianity came gradually through trading contacts and Frankish pressure, though old practices persisted longer here than in interior lands. The wealth concentrated in trading posts attracted attention. Frankish kings imposed tribute when they could enforce it. Vikings raided settlements and eventually seized control of key ports. Yet Frisian maritime expertise remained valuable enough that conquerors typically incorporated rather than eliminated them.
Frisian strength lay entirely in their maritime economy and the strategic position it gave them. While other peoples measured wealth in land and plunder, Frisians accumulated it through trade, transport fees, and specialized production. Their ships could reach markets others couldn't access efficiently. Coastal settlements developed into fortified trading posts that served as safe harbors and exchange points - valuable enough that even hostile powers preferred keeping them functional. Frisian merchants ventured into unknown waters seeking new trading partners, bringing back knowledge and goods that enriched their ports. This created a network that survived political upheavals which destroyed land-based kingdoms. Yet Frisians remained militarily weak. They couldn't field large armies or heavy cavalry. Their scattered coastal settlements were vulnerable to raiders, especially Vikings who understood maritime warfare equally well. When stronger powers demanded submission, Frisians typically negotiated rather than fought. Their prosperity depended on maintaining trade relationships, making them diplomatic by necessity. The culture that thrived in this period was pragmatic, adaptable, and ultimately defined by salt air and ship timber rather than sword and plow.
