Preview
  • The Horse, the Wheel, and Language

  • How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
  • By: David W. Anthony
  • Narrated by: Tom Perkins
  • Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (701 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Horse, the Wheel, and Language

By: David W. Anthony
Narrated by: Tom Perkins
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.79

Buy for $25.79

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Roughly half the world's population speaks languages derived from a shared linguistic source known as Proto-Indo-European. But who were the early speakers of this ancient mother tongue, and how did they manage to spread it around the globe?

Until now, their identity has remained a tantalizing mystery to linguists, archaeologists, and even Nazis seeking the roots of the Aryan race. The Horse, the Wheel, and Language lifts the veil that has long shrouded these original Indo-European speakers and reveals how their domestication of horses and use of the wheel spread language and transformed civilization.

Linking prehistoric archaeological remains with the development of language, David W. Anthony identifies the prehistoric peoples of Central Eurasia's steppe grasslands as the original speakers of Proto-Indo-European and shows how their innovative use of the ox wagon, horseback riding, and the warrior's chariot turned the Eurasian steppes into a thriving transcontinental corridor of communication, commerce, and cultural exchange.

He explains how they spread their traditions and gave rise to important advances in copper mining, warfare, and patron-client political institutions, thereby ushering in an era of vibrant social change. Anthony also describes his fascinating discovery of how the wear from bits on ancient horse teeth reveals the origins of horseback riding.

The Horse, the Wheel, and Language solves a puzzle that has vexed scholars for two centuries - the source of the Indo-European languages and English - and recovers a magnificent and influential civilization from the past.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2007 Princeton University Press (P)2018 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Horse, the Wheel, and Language

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    416
  • 4 Stars
    167
  • 3 Stars
    81
  • 2 Stars
    25
  • 1 Stars
    12
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    387
  • 4 Stars
    128
  • 3 Stars
    60
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    340
  • 4 Stars
    140
  • 3 Stars
    67
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    19

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great book

Great book but requires some patience. While the archeological detail is admirable, it could have been condensed and summarized, which would have made the book better. Also, there is more exposition into surrounding non Indo European cultures than is required for the ultimate conclusions the author draws. However, very fascinating, intellectually honest, and worth the time for anyone interested in the subject.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting, but there is a LOT about pots

I agree with the other reviewer that this has some fascinating elements, but the depths to which the author goes about pots is… intense. Well, not even whole pots, bits of pots. It is also amusing to hear the academic griping about other archeologists and linguists in general.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

could use more extra materials

There's a lot of data in this book. It's an amazing research and I'm very happy it was made into an audiobook, because as someone who is only a casual listener to such content, I would not have went for a book I need to sit down and read. But some information like mentioned places at least could be helpful in a written form. As a Polish, I would have loved to know the exact places this book speaks of in area close to my country, but given the English pronounciation and obscurity of the some places in the modern era I cannot be sure I have found the exact ones the book speaks of.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating History

My first dive into prehistoric Indo-European language and history was fascinating! Very well thought out and supported, along with a PDF. Thank you Professor Anthony! JSelway

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Insight, Well Performed

I’ll admit, this book is geared towards a specific audience, so it isn’t for everyone. As someone that loves archeology, ancient nomadic history, and the process of deeply proving a case, this is a fantastic read. His great efforts in research are clear.
The performance was very well done. When the author is digressing into a point he wants to emphasize, the speaker often shifts his tone slightly. I love this detail, as it makes clear what is pure evidence and information, and what is author perspective or interjection.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

not as expected

seems the author is well acquainted with the history and archaeology of the Ukraine, and surrounding regions. i found the book tedious, with too much detail, and not enough dynamic storytelling, nor explanations of the importance of the developments of these civilizations. i am plowing through slowly, but hoped for a more interesting read.
i am fascinated by the trypillian/cucutani civiliation

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Helps with our understanding of of shared past which came out of the steppe and spread east and west.

A lot of historical detail is in this story that comes out of the Steppes. Important ideas and innovations such as the wheel, governance, and animal husbandry are layered thru out this book. Really good listen even thru the numerous tribes and groups that you will encounter.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

This book was a fascinating dive into the linguistic and archeological history of the central Eurasian steppes and how those cultures shaped the modern world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting but dense

Very data heavy and dense with archaeological detail. A truly fantastic book can create interest where none exists, and brings a distant culture to life. This book did neither. The point almost got list in the pottery shards. I wouldn’t have made it through this one if not for an intense pre-existing interest. Since I was interested, I survived the litany of Bronze Age grave site descriptions that started to run together. Ultimately worth the effort to pay attention.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

dense and fascinating

This book goes into the minute details of archeological dogs and linguistic theory to reconstruct the story of the step people who spread the Indo-European language. it is a rich, dense book about a mysterious and fascinating topic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful