**An Economist Best Book of the YearA New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice“A thrilling trip through 2,000 years in the rise of empires.” —Robert Sullivan, New York Times Book ReviewA captivating history of civilization that reveals the central role of the horse in culture, commerce, and conquest.**No animal is so entangled in human history as the horse. The thread starts in prehistory, with a slight, shy animal, hunted for foo...

No animal is so entangled in human history as the horse. The thread starts in prehistory, with a slight, shy animal, hunted for food. Domesticating the horse allowed early humans to settle the vast Eurasian steppe; later, their horses enabled new forms of warfare, encouraged long-distance trade routes, and ended up acquiring deep cultural and religious significance.Over time, horses came to power mighty empires in Iran, Afghanistan, China, India, and, later, Russia. Genghis Khan an...