Horse, the Wheel, and Language

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Roughly half of the world's population speaks languages derived from Proto-Indo-European, an ancient mother tongue. The identity of its early speakers and how they spread their language globally has long been a mystery. This work unveils the original Indo-European speakers, linking their domestication of horses and use of the wheel to the transformation of civilization. David Anthony identifies the prehistoric peoples of central Eurasia's steppe grasslands as these speakers, demonstrating how their innovative use of ox wagons, horseback riding, and chariots turned the steppes into a vibrant corridor for communication, commerce, and cultural exchange. He illustrates how they disseminated their traditions and contributed to significant advancements in copper mining, warfare, and political structures, initiating an era of profound social change. Additionally, Anthony presents a fascinating discovery regarding the wear on ancient horse teeth, shedding light on the origins of horseback riding. This work addresses a longstanding scholarly puzzle about the source of Indo-European languages and English, recovering a remarkable and influential civilization from history.