Dublin had been long considered one of the cities of the future by traders who had traversed the tried and true sea lanes from the Middle East to Africa, from India to China, and from Russia to Scandinavia. The ferocious Vikings had made their way across the North Sea from the frozen wastelands, plundering their way across Northern Europe in a campaign of terror not seen since the Gothic rebellion against Rome. Once they had established their dominion over their weaker opponents, they realized the unlimited potential of trade throughout the region and decided on a more diplomatic approach in reaching out to their new neighbors. By making the peace with the Irish kings in the occupied territories, they made Dublin their new trade center in Ireland and set out to make it a hub of commerce th
