![]() ![]() ![]() Scandinavian furs were highly prized in the new trading markets from their trade with the Europeans, Scandinavians learned about new sailing technology as well as about the growing wealth and accompanying inner conflicts between European kingdoms. ![]() In the eighth century A.D., Europe was growing richer, fueling the growth of trading centers such as Dorestad and Quentovic on the Continent and Hamwic (now Southampton), London, Ipswich and York in England. The exact reasons for Vikings venturing out from their homeland are uncertain some have suggested it was due to overpopulation of their homeland, but the earliest Vikings were looking for riches, not land. ![]() Their common ground–and what made them different from the European peoples they confronted–was that they came from a foreign land, they were not “civilized” in the local understanding of the word and–most importantly–they were not Christian.ĭid you know? The name Viking came from the Scandinavians themselves, from the Old Norse word "vik" (bay or creek) which formed the root of "vikingr" (pirate). Contrary to some popular conceptions of the Vikings, they were not a “race” linked by ties of common ancestry or patriotism, and could not be defined by any particular sense of “Viking-ness.” Most of the Vikings whose activities are best known come from the areas now known as Denmark, Norway and Sweden, though there are mentions in historical records of Finnish, Estonian and Saami Vikings as well. ![]()
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![]() As Cinder begins to uncover secrets about her past she must dive deeper into political warfare in order to save her country and the world.Ī recurring theme in the book is the discrimination against cyborgs by humans simply because they are different. When Cinder crosses paths with Prince Kai she is thrust into the middle of an intergalactic struggle. ![]() ![]() On top of all this, there is a plague that is spreading rapidly and is threatening to wipe out the citizens.Ĭinder is a brilliant mechanic and cyborg with a mysterious past. The story is set in the dystopian society of New Beijing, a country where humans and cyborgs co-exist while having a severely politically damaged relationship with the Lunars, a society on the moon. From the evil stepmother to the ball, all of the elements are memorable from the original, and now can be found in this book with a slight twist. Taking a page out of the original story, Meyer creates a ball where Cinder accidentally leaves something behind. This is the first book in the Lunar Chronicles series, which revolves around an evil stepmother, two stepsisters and the protagonist, Cinder. Photo courtesy of Marissa Meyer’s bestselling debut novel “Cinder,” is a futuristic retelling of the classic story of Cinderella. The cover of the novel “Cinder” by Marissa Meyer. ![]() ![]() The techniques developed under Pääbo’s leadership provided researchers the basis for comparing the genomes of Neanderthals with those of modern humans and other hominins such as Denisovans. ![]() With the genomes of many Neanderthals and Denisovans available, it is now possible to identify specific human genes. ![]() This research has put in place an entirely new scientific discipline, that of paleogenomics. Knowledge of Neanderthal DNA provides important insights into our immune system, including the weakening of our immunity to diseases such as COVID-19. Pääbo, a 67-year-old geneticist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, has revealed the secrets of Neanderthal DNA, helping us understand what makes humans unique. Swedish scientist Svante Pääbo has won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for research on human evolution. We have now been able to reach the roots of our origins by ‘digging’ into millions of years of history. We cannot have a deep knowledge about our existence and evolution without going back to prehistory. ![]() ![]() Understanding the value of our existence and reaching the roots of our evolution has been an intriguing subject for human beings. ![]() |