Hoof Beats

"A new story about domestication of the horse and how horses forever altered the course of human history. Hoof Beats brings together cutting-edge science and archaeological discoveries from around the globe to explore how momentous events in the story of humans and horses helped create the world we live in today. William Taylor, one of the foremost experts on the subject, traces the legacy of the horse from its initial domestication to the invention of horse-drawn transportation, through the explosive shift to mounted riding and dispersal to every corner of the globe. Illustrated with striking images and drawings highlighting horse cultures and archaeological discoveries from across the ancient world, this book fills in massive gaps in the historical record from 'horse country,' including new research in Mongolia and the Great Plains. Taylor synthesizes such revolutionary research to guide readers through the major discoveries that have placed the horse at the origins of significant contemporary issues--globalization, trade, biological exchange, and social inequality. Fascinating and highly original, Hoof Beats transforms our understanding not just of horses, but of how we interpret evidence of humanity's ancient past"