Trade and industry until 1200

From the start of the 7th century Slavic tribes used river courses, islands, hills and the sea for fishing, hunting and trading with their north Scandinavian neighbours. Some settlements of craftsmen became overseas trade centres with an early urban character and Danish and Saxon merchants also settled there. There was evidence of such a settlement at the Oder Estuary in Wolin (possibly the legendary Vineta). Other trading centres were created near Menzlin on the Peene, Ralswiek on Rügen, the Warnow Estuary near Rostock-Dierkow and near Groß Strömkendorf (Reric) on Wismar Bay.

Slavic tribes have used the watercourses, islands, hills and the sea to fish, hunt and trade with their Scandinavian neighbours to the North since the early 7th century. Some trading posts become centres of export with a proto-urban character; merchants from Saxony also settle there. Remains of this kind of settlement have been discovered on the Oder estuary in Wollin (possibly the fabled Jumne/Vineta). Other centres of trade emerge near Menzlin by the river Peene and in Ralswiek on Rügen.