Scott here with another episode of the History Unplugged Podcast.

The first use of horses by humans began roughly 5,500 years ago on the grasslands of the Pontic Caspian Step, when a daring man, or woman,

we have no way of knowing, jumped on the back of a dossil mare.

This began the horse's journey as perhaps humanity's most important animal.

It was a mode of transportation, a vehicle of trade, a farming tool, a status symbol, a weapon of

war, a source of energy, an agent of both lethal disease and life-saving medicine,

a participant in sport and a loyal companion.

You can even see that today where some people use miniature horses as support animals

in place of dogs.

Now, for most of us, horses aren't part of our everyday lives.

They're relegated to entertainment through racing rodeos or movies depicting bygone eras.

But for the 5,000 years that human civilization has existed, horses only lost their seat as a primary

method of transportation in the blink of an eye about a hundred years ago, and it's easy to

take for granted how important they were for every century up to the 20th.

To look at the impact of horses on global civilization,

we're joined by Timothy Weingard,

author of the horse, a galloping history of humanity.

Hope you enjoy this episode.

And one more thing before we get started with this episode. And one more thing before we get started with this episode, a quick break for word from our sponsors.

War has played a key role in the history of the United States,

from the nation's founding right down to the present. Wars made the United States from the nation's founding right down to the present. Wars made the

United States independent, kept it together, increased its size, and established it as a global

...