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TED-Ed

How the Mongols used horses to create an empire - William T. Taylor

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2,892 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

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People have been captivated by horses for a long time. They appear more than any other animal in cave paintings dating back 30,000 years. But how did horses make the journey from wild animals to ones humans could hitch themselves to and even ride? William T. Taylor explores how the domestication of horses influenced the fate of entire civilizations and dramatically altered human history.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Want to learn more about the relationships between people and horses in the ancient and modern world? Check out our project website and virtual exhibit, Horses in the North American West, where you can read about our latest archaeological discoveries, inspect 3D models of cool artifacts, explore other educational activities, and watch videos about the importance of horses in Native American cultures across the American Southwest and the Great Plains. You can also read more about the Mongolian postal relay system, learn about the invention of ancient veterinary care in horses at National Geographic, and read more about important questions about horse domestication and archaeology on our post in The Conversation. 

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Meet The Creators

Educator
William Taylor
Director
Denys Spolitak
Narrator
Addison Anderson
Music
Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
Sound Designer
Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
Director of Production
Gerta Xhelo
Senior Producer
Anna Bechtol
Associate Producer
Sazia Afrin
Editorial Director
Alex Rosenthal
Script Producer
Cella Wright
Script Editor
Alex Gendler
Fact-Checker
Charles Wallace

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