When I was studying Norse mythology (for fun, not academically) I read that even though Scandinavians were in close contact with Romans, Greeks, Arabs and even

When I was studying Norse mythology (for fun, not academically) I read that even though Scandinavians were in close contact with Romans, Greeks, Arabs and even Indians via trading routes, they didn't really commit too much to writing. They had runic inscriptions on stones and gold, but that's kinda it. They only really took to writing after they converted to Christianity, which is why we have stuff like Snorri Sturluson's Eddas.