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How horses changed history - William T. Taylor

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  • 551 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.


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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

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
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. 

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

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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