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  Cheras Dynasty - Tamil Maritime...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Chera dynasty, one of the three great Tamil dynasties of ancient South India, played a crucial role in shaping the political, economic, and cultural landscape of the region. Their rule, spanning centuries, witnessed the flourishing of trade, literature, and governance, laying the foundation for Kerala’s distinct identity. Emerging during the Sangam Age, the Cheras established themselves as a dominant force in Tamilakam, with their influence extending beyond the Western Ghats into the Indian Ocean trade networks. 
  The origins of the Cheras remain shrouded in legend and early Tamil literary references. Sangam literature, including works like the Pattinappalai and Akananuru, speaks of mighty Chera kings who ruled with valor and wisdom. The dynasty’s association with Vanji (also known as Karur) as their capital city highlights their strategic control over the fertile lands of present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The geographical advantage of their kingdom, with access to the Arabian Sea on the west and the lush inland regions, enabled the Cheras to engage in extensive maritime trade. 
  The early rulers of the Chera dynasty established their power through military conquests and strategic alliances. One of the most celebrated kings was Uthiyan Cheralathan, considered the first known historical Chera ruler. He is mentioned as a patron of poets and a formidable leader who controlled trade routes. His successors, Nedum Cheralathan and Senguttuvan Chera, further expanded the empire. Senguttuvan, famously associated with the Silappadikaram, a great Tamil epic, is credited with the introduction of the Pattini cult, honoring Kannagi, a symbol of justice and womanhood. His military campaigns against northern kingdoms and his patronage of Tamil culture reinforced the Chera dynasty’s prestige.

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  Piano Scales FOR KIDS -...

  Jessica Gilbert

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  The piano is a longstanding, classical, and revered instrument. Invented in the 1700s by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) of Padua, Italy, with plenty of hammers and planters to boot, the piano came to be quite popular in the homes of many a Western brood by the end of the nineteenth century. When someone thinks of a classical composer, it wouldn’t be unusual to go to Bach, Beethoven, and the like and easily associate them with piano. Many believe that piano sets the standard for musicians, laying the foundation for instrumental affinity. What does that mean, exactly? The piano is awesome. But you knew that already. Yet, what makes a good pianist great? What are the tools used to get you from here to there? While playing is, of course, supposed to be fun, sometimes a bit of direction is what we need to get to the next level. 
  The basic keyboard, housing case, lid, pedals, keys, hammers, and strings still make up the majority of the modern piano’s design and componentry. This piano has withstood the test of time and largely remained intact, with the exception of electric keyboards and some piano types. 
  How exactly does a piano work? How does it create such lovely tunes and tones? Let’s see how all piano parts work to create one of the most enduring and identifiable instruments in contemporary music.

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  Building the Metropolis -...

  Alexander Wood

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  A sweeping history of New York that chronicles the construction of one of the world’s great cities. Between the 1880s and the 1930s, New York City experienced explosive growth as nearly a million buildings, dozens of bridges and tunnels, hundreds of miles of subway lines, and thousands of miles of streets were erected to meet the needs of an ever-swelling population. This landscape—jagged with skyscrapers, rattling with the sound of mass transit, alive with people—made the city world-famous. Building the Metropolis offers a revelatory look at this era of urban development by asking, “Who built New York, and how?” Focusing on the work of architects, builders, and construction workers, Alexander Wood chronicles the physical process of the city’s rapid expansion. New York’s towering buildings and busy thoroughfares aren’t just stylish or structural marvels, Wood shows, but the direct result of the many colorful personalities who worked in one of the city’s largest industries. This development boom drew on the resources of the whole community and required money, political will, creative vision, entrepreneurial drive, skilled workmanship, and hard physical labor. Wood shows this to be an even larger story as well. As cities became nodes in a regional, national, and global economy, the business of construction became an important motor of economic, political, and social development. While they held drastically different views on the course of urban growth, machine politicians, reformers, and radicals alike were all committed to city building on an epic scale. Drawing on resources that include city archives and the records of architecture firms, construction companies, and labor unions, Building the Metropolis tells the story of New York in a way that’s epic, lively, and utterly original.

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  Technology and Smart Cities -...

  Lyric Vale

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  At the intersection of technological innovation and urban human experience lies a revolutionary transformation of how we conceive, design, and inhabit our living spaces. Smart Cities represent more than a technological trend—they are a fundamental reimagining of urban environments where digital intelligence, interconnected systems, and human-centric design converge to create more responsive, efficient, and adaptive urban landscapes. This comprehensive exploration delves into the complex world of technological integration in urban systems, examining how digital networks, advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and collaborative platforms are reshaping the very fabric of city life. 
  The narrative of smart cities is a dynamic journey of technological potential and human adaptation, where urban networks become living, breathing ecosystems of information and interaction. By exploring the intricate relationships between technology, infrastructure, social dynamics, and urban design, this book unveils the profound ways in which digital innovations are transforming traditional urban paradigms. Readers will discover how city networks are evolving from static infrastructures to intelligent, responsive systems that can anticipate needs, optimize resources, enhance sustainability, and create more inclusive, connected urban experiences. From data-driven urban management to the Internet of Things, from intelligent transportation systems to participatory digital platforms, this exploration offers a visionary perspective on how technology is not just changing cities, but fundamentally reimagining the potential of human collective living.

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  The Courage of Johanna Bonger -...

  Davis Truman

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  The art world was forever changed with Vincent Van Gogh's emergence. His vivid, emotional paintings captured the attention and admiration of many, even as the artist struggled with mental illness and financial instability. But behind every great artist is often an equally great supporter, and for Vincent Van Gogh, that person was Johanna Bonger. 
  Johanna was more than Vincent's sister-in-law. She was a woman fiercely determined to champion Vincent's work, even when critics and collectors misunderstood or dismissed it. Her unwavering support was essential in preserving Vincent's legacy and securing his place in art. 
  "The Courage of Johanna Bonger: The Woman Who Made Vincent Van Gogh Immortal" is a tribute to the woman who played a pivotal role in shaping Vincent's artistic reputation. Through letters, personal accounts, and historical research, this book delves into Johanna's life, her unwavering commitment to Vincent, and the challenges and obstacles she faced. 
  From her liberal-minded upbringing to her eventual marriage to Theo van Gogh, this book explores Johanna's journey to becoming a driving force in preserving Vincent's legacy. The book also delves into Vincent's struggles with mental illness and how this impacted his relationships with others, including Johanna. 
  Through the lens of Johanna's story, "The Courage of Johanna Bonger" offers a fresh perspective on Vincent Van Gogh and the enduring impact of his work. It celebrates the power of dedication and the courage to stand by one's convictions, even in the face of opposition. Ultimately, this book is a tribute to a remarkable woman who played a crucial role in immortalizing Vincent Van Gogh.

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  Handel in Words and Music

  Davinia Caddy

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  Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks and  Water Music, two of his greatest orchestral achievements, have become synonymous with mid-18th-century England and with the pomp, ceremony and tradition of British royalty. But is this music necessarily synonymous with Handel? Where did his eclecticism and experimentalism come from? How and why did he conquer the emerging genre of the English oratorio and what were the circumstances that allowed him to become one of opera’s greatest composers? This revealing audio biography is accompanied by musical examples drawn from his orchestral and instrumental music, his cantatas, oratorios, operas and those two famous royal commissions.

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