One of history’s biggest drivers is not what you might think
The horse has moulded empires, wars and human affairs profoundly
There was nearly a world without horses. At the end of the last ice age warming temperatures turned the grasslands where horses roamed into swamps and forests. Humans hunted them heavily for meat. Wild horses did, in fact, go extinct in North America around 7,600-12,000 years ago. You could say that by stopping hunting and starting to domesticate and harness them, humans saved horses. Or you could say that horses decided to bet on people.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Unbridled”
Culture September 21st 2024
From the September 21st 2024 edition
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