Sounds good, doesn't work. /s Honestly, in those days, a trip from Stockholm to Malacca in those days would have been much faster than a trip from the Kara sea

Sounds good, doesn't work. /s Honestly, in those days, a trip from Stockholm to Malacca in those days would have been much faster than a trip from the Kara sea through Siberia. Not to mention, much safer - you don't have to worry about nomadic raiders stealing your goods (which was a very significant concern in the Silk Road overland route vis a vis the Spice Route).