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The Horse, the Wheel, and a Horn of Mead | Sam Birger | TEDxNewport


now then everyone who’s hearing this

now then everyone who’s hearing this talk is the speaker of English and as

talk is the speaker of English and as

talk is the speaker of English and as such is participating in a language

such is participating in a language

such is participating in a language culture which we share with about half

culture which we share with about half

culture which we share with about half the planet and which reaches back about

the planet and which reaches back about

the planet and which reaches back about seven thousand years into our prehistory

in the same way that Latin over time and

in the same way that Latin over time and like all languages changes and becomes

like all languages changes and becomes

like all languages changes and becomes Italian and French and Spanish and the

Italian and French and Spanish and the

Italian and French and Spanish and the other Romance languages scholars have

other Romance languages scholars have

other Romance languages scholars have been able to show that all the languages

been able to show that all the languages

been able to show that all the languages between the Western deserts of China and

between the Western deserts of China and

between the Western deserts of China and Iceland go back to a mother tongue we

Iceland go back to a mother tongue we

Iceland go back to a mother tongue we called this language proto-indo-european

called this language proto-indo-european

called this language proto-indo-european and the speakers of this language the

and the speakers of this language the

and the speakers of this language the indo-european well not quite sure who

indo-european well not quite sure who

indo-european well not quite sure who they were as relates to the

they were as relates to the

they were as relates to the archaeological record but through the

archaeological record but through the

archaeological record but through the linguistic evidence we get a glimpse of

linguistic evidence we get a glimpse of

linguistic evidence we get a glimpse of a culture both strange and familiar when

a culture both strange and familiar when

a culture both strange and familiar when we have word that’s show up in different

we have word that’s show up in different

we have word that’s show up in different languages that it’s sound alike share

languages that it’s sound alike share

languages that it’s sound alike share the same general meaning we can make a

the same general meaning we can make a

the same general meaning we can make a supposition that they go back to an

supposition that they go back to an

supposition that they go back to an original root and with enough evidence

original root and with enough evidence

original root and with enough evidence we can piece together what that might

we can piece together what that might

we can piece together what that might have sounded like here’s an example the

have sounded like here’s an example the

have sounded like here’s an example the ATIS word water shows up in hittite

ATIS word water shows up in hittite

ATIS word water shows up in hittite which is a language that was spoken in

which is a language that was spoken in

which is a language that was spoken in what is now Turkey between 1800 1200 BC

what is now Turkey between 1800 1200 BC

what is now Turkey between 1800 1200 BC their word is WOD are very similar the

their word is WOD are very similar the

their word is WOD are very similar the Russian word for water is water and

Russian word for water is water and

Russian word for water is water and vodka just means little water so we can

vodka just means little water so we can

vodka just means little water so we can make a supposition that the original

make a supposition that the original

make a supposition that the original word must have sounded something like la

word must have sounded something like la

word must have sounded something like la da and

the linguistic and cultural evidence we

the linguistic and cultural evidence we know that they had the horse very

know that they had the horse very

know that they had the horse very important in their culture and which

important in their culture and which

important in their culture and which helped to spread it across vast

helped to spread it across vast

helped to spread it across vast distances they had the plow they had the

distances they had the plow they had the

distances they had the plow they had the wheel they had the axle they had

wheel they had the axle they had

wheel they had the axle they had chariots they had the yoke and the loot

chariots they had the yoke and the loot

chariots they had the yoke and the loot for that word shares its etymology with

for that word shares its etymology with

for that word shares its etymology with the word we think of this very ancient

the word we think of this very ancient

the word we think of this very ancient that like yoga and also words that are

that like yoga and also words that are

that like yoga and also words that are very modern like Jack is in the

very modern like Jack is in the

very modern like Jack is in the headphone jack that we just 7 or jacking

headphone jack that we just 7 or jacking

headphone jack that we just 7 or jacking into the internet we know that there

into the internet we know that there

into the internet we know that there chief God probably did battle with the

chief God probably did battle with the

chief God probably did battle with the sea monster as Zeus battles typhoon and

sea monster as Zeus battles typhoon and

sea monster as Zeus battles typhoon and Indra battled fira and the indian

Indra battled fira and the indian

Indra battled fira and the indian mythology in hitch height

mythology in hitch height

mythology in hitch height the here otaku’s battles in Ludhiana

the here otaku’s battles in Ludhiana

the here otaku’s battles in Ludhiana similarly we know that they probably had

similarly we know that they probably had

similarly we know that they probably had a river god called something like don or

a river god called something like don or

a river god called something like don or da new we have the rivers that don in

da new we have the rivers that don in

da new we have the rivers that don in the airport the mr. Donavan it might be

the airport the mr. Donavan it might be

the airport the mr. Donavan it might be don mark as well and we know that their

don mark as well and we know that their

don mark as well and we know that their thunder god who is called perón in

thunder god who is called perón in

thunder god who is called perón in Russian and of kunas in Lithuanian and

Russian and of kunas in Lithuanian and

Russian and of kunas in Lithuanian and Kunis is called met with you with the

Kunis is called met with you with the

Kunis is called met with you with the italic word Quercus Latin for oak tree

italic word Quercus Latin for oak tree

italic word Quercus Latin for oak tree in the Roman historians tell us that we

in the Roman historians tell us that we

in the Roman historians tell us that we drew it with worship at the oak and

drew it with worship at the oak and

drew it with worship at the oak and Quercus is the word which in English

Quercus is the word which in English

Quercus is the word which in English shows up in Cork as cork comes from the

shows up in Cork as cork comes from the

shows up in Cork as cork comes from the particular bark of an oak tree and

particular bark of an oak tree and

particular bark of an oak tree and speaking of corks we know they enjoyed a

speaking of corks we know they enjoyed a

speaking of corks we know they enjoyed a party the word need shows up across all

party the word need shows up across all

party the word need shows up across all the indo-european languages its module

the indo-european languages its module

the indo-european languages its module in Sanskrit it’s Madras means drunk and

in Sanskrit it’s Madras means drunk and

in Sanskrit it’s Madras means drunk and garlic Meadows and old Church Slavonic

garlic Meadows and old Church Slavonic

garlic Meadows and old Church Slavonic we have in Russian you don’t

we have in Russian you don’t

we have in Russian you don’t but there by his name for fear of

but there by his name for fear of

but there by his name for fear of attracting his attention he described

attracting his attention he described

attracting his attention he described instead as yet that the honey either and

instead as yet that the honey either and

instead as yet that the honey either and you know they read you know that they

you know they read you know that they

you know they read you know that they had why when I was in Greek you know and

had why when I was in Greek you know and

had why when I was in Greek you know and then and an alien languages blind

then and an alien languages blind

then and an alien languages blind obviously in English it was so good we

obviously in English it was so good we

obviously in English it was so good we had to share it with our neighbors to

had to share it with our neighbors to

had to share it with our neighbors to the south as the eye and its lodging and

the south as the eye and its lodging and

the south as the eye and its lodging and demotic Egyptian we also know that the

demotic Egyptian we also know that the

demotic Egyptian we also know that the English words night and naked go back to

English words night and naked go back to

English words night and naked go back to the same route so what this means is

the same route so what this means is

the same route so what this means is they probably weren’t wearing any

they probably weren’t wearing any

they probably weren’t wearing any pajamas so there’s this ritual which is

pajamas so there’s this ritual which is

pajamas so there’s this ritual which is described in the Rig Veda which is about

described in the Rig Veda which is about

described in the Rig Veda which is about 5,000 years old written in Sanskrit as

5,000 years old written in Sanskrit as

5,000 years old written in Sanskrit as both have become to what the original

both have become to what the original

both have become to what the original indo-european speakers wouldn’t be

indo-european speakers wouldn’t be

indo-european speakers wouldn’t be talking about this ritual called the

talking about this ritual called the

talking about this ritual called the ashvamedha and there that need word

ashvamedha and there that need word

ashvamedha and there that need word again describes a priestess having

again describes a priestess having

again describes a priestess having ritualized sex with a horse which has

ritualized sex with a horse which has

ritualized sex with a horse which has been slaughtered and fed to the

been slaughtered and fed to the

been slaughtered and fed to the assembled masses never let me go there

assembled masses never let me go there

assembled masses never let me go there yes and we can compare this directly

yes and we can compare this directly

yes and we can compare this directly with the ancient Irish kingship rituals

with the ancient Irish kingship rituals

with the ancient Irish kingship rituals where the newly installed King has sex

where the newly installed King has sex

where the newly installed King has sex with a horse which has been slaughtered

with a horse which has been slaughtered

with a horse which has been slaughtered who fed up the assembled masses and the

who fed up the assembled masses and the

who fed up the assembled masses and the kings of Norway did the same thing even

kings of Norway did the same thing even

kings of Norway did the same thing even after a crystallization in horse meat is

after a crystallization in horse meat is

after a crystallization in horse meat is taboo before the cross albeit England

taboo before the cross albeit England

taboo before the cross albeit England European language cultures otherwise and

European language cultures otherwise and

European language cultures otherwise and there were a restless bunch and

there were a restless bunch and

there were a restless bunch and different groups would over time split

different groups would over time split

different groups would over time split off as the language itself sat in

off as the language itself sat in

off as the language itself sat in development their little branch would go

development their little branch would go

development their little branch would go up and develop we came to the first

up and develop we came to the first

up and develop we came to the first branch to leave were the Anatolian is

branch to leave were the Anatolian is

branch to leave were the Anatolian is chiefly represented by the Hittite

chiefly represented by the Hittite

chiefly represented by the Hittite language

other groups included weeks in the doric

other groups included weeks in the doric so we’ll talk about them later there was

so we’ll talk about them later there was

so we’ll talk about them later there was a major group that went off to the east

a major group that went off to the east

a major group that went off to the east need there called the indo-aryan branch

need there called the indo-aryan branch

need there called the indo-aryan branch and they further split into the

and they further split into the

and they further split into the languages would become parsing in

languages would become parsing in

languages would become parsing in modern-day Iran and the Sanskrit

modern-day Iran and the Sanskrit

modern-day Iran and the Sanskrit languages and we can trace the actual

languages and we can trace the actual

languages and we can trace the actual movement of the indo-europeans across

movement of the indo-europeans across

movement of the indo-europeans across the ages River Valley by the place name

the ages River Valley by the place name

the ages River Valley by the place name everybody’s familiar with the Punjab

everybody’s familiar with the Punjab

everybody’s familiar with the Punjab region that’s literally at a melodically

region that’s literally at a melodically

region that’s literally at a melodically the five waters pancha hub okay and that

the five waters pancha hub okay and that

the five waters pancha hub okay and that that Concha is cognate with Greek Penton

that Concha is cognate with Greek Penton

that Concha is cognate with Greek Penton and Latin Queen quick goes back an

and Latin Queen quick goes back an

and Latin Queen quick goes back an indo-european something like that hem

indo-european something like that hem

indo-european something like that hem quick punch is the drink with five

quick punch is the drink with five

quick punch is the drink with five ingredients right and this might have

ingredients right and this might have

ingredients right and this might have been the original high five

we’re not quite sure if things up

we’re not quite sure if things up another point we’re not sure what

another point we’re not sure what

another point we’re not sure what prompted their dispersal that what

prompted their dispersal that what

prompted their dispersal that what prompted their movement it could just as

prompted their movement it could just as

prompted their movement it could just as easily have been about a need for more

easily have been about a need for more

easily have been about a need for more arable soil as it could have been about

arable soil as it could have been about

arable soil as it could have been about warfare and conquest and capture that

warfare and conquest and capture that

warfare and conquest and capture that chariot that I have mentioned earlier

chariot that I have mentioned earlier

chariot that I have mentioned earlier was an effective tool for hauling heavy

was an effective tool for hauling heavy

was an effective tool for hauling heavy objects and it was a great war machine

objects and it was a great war machine

objects and it was a great war machine as well they had the recurve bow which

as well they had the recurve bow which

as well they had the recurve bow which is a great weapon for hunting and

is a great weapon for hunting and

is a great weapon for hunting and gracious a weapon in war the Hittites

gracious a weapon in war the Hittites

gracious a weapon in war the Hittites were in fact the chief enemies of the

were in fact the chief enemies of the

were in fact the chief enemies of the Egyptians at the time of Ramses the

Egyptians at the time of Ramses the

Egyptians at the time of Ramses the second is according to its record or

second is according to its record or

second is according to its record or pretty appears some warriors other

pretty appears some warriors other

pretty appears some warriors other groups split off over time we have the

groups split off over time we have the

groups split off over time we have the healthy right palate plans we have the

healthy right palate plans we have the

healthy right palate plans we have the Armenians the bleep food Oryx the

Armenians the bleep food Oryx the

Armenians the bleep food Oryx the Germanic tribes fairly late split off

Germanic tribes fairly late split off

Germanic tribes fairly late split off went to the west they further split into

went to the west they further split into

went to the west they further split into the eastern northern and western

the eastern northern and western

the eastern northern and western branches and English is a little twig on

branches and English is a little twig on

branches and English is a little twig on the western branch

the western branch

the western branch the Germanic languages but I want to

the Germanic languages but I want to

the Germanic languages but I want to attract I want to turn our attention to

attract I want to turn our attention to

attract I want to turn our attention to a group that spoke a language called

a group that spoke a language called

a group that spoke a language called soap Aryan that went really far easy I

soap Aryan that went really far easy I

soap Aryan that went really far easy I think they’re pretty interesting as

think they’re pretty interesting as

think they’re pretty interesting as recently as the 1980s the shifting

recently as the 1980s the shifting

recently as the 1980s the shifting desert sands in the Western Desert of

desert sands in the Western Desert of

desert sands in the Western Desert of China the Taklamakan desert revealed

China the Taklamakan desert revealed

China the Taklamakan desert revealed some ancient burials and these mummies

some ancient burials and these mummies

some ancient burials and these mummies come to life preserved in the arid

come to life preserved in the arid

come to life preserved in the arid desert environment and they’re unusually

desert environment and they’re unusually

desert environment and they’re unusually tall and they have red and blonde hair

tall and they have red and blonde hair

tall and they have red and blonde hair and they have long faces long noses and

and they have long faces long noses and

and they have long faces long noses and they are obviously looking Caucasian an

they are obviously looking Caucasian an

they are obviously looking Caucasian an examination of their grave Goods

examination of their grave Goods

examination of their grave Goods revealed even more interesting stories

revealed even more interesting stories

revealed even more interesting stories one is buried with the world’s oldest

one is buried with the world’s oldest

one is buried with the world’s oldest piece of cheese or a daily culture at

piece of cheese or a daily culture at

piece of cheese or a daily culture at 3,400 years old that she didn’t really

3,400 years old that she didn’t really

3,400 years old that she didn’t really look all that appetizing several more

look all that appetizing several more

look all that appetizing several more were buried with bags of marijuana as a

were buried with bags of marijuana as a

were buried with bags of marijuana as a person will supply for the afterlife

so are indo-european cousins who were

so are indo-european cousins who were trading the clothing that they were

trading the clothing that they were

trading the clothing that they were wearing was made of a wool that was

wearing was made of a wool that was

wearing was made of a wool that was moving in a diagonal twill pattern that

moving in a diagonal twill pattern that

moving in a diagonal twill pattern that we see nowhere else except in ancient

we see nowhere else except in ancient

we see nowhere else except in ancient Celtic textiles this this is a target

Celtic textiles this this is a target

Celtic textiles this this is a target that that mummies of the Chinese desert

that that mummies of the Chinese desert

that that mummies of the Chinese desert were where they discover the graveyard

were where they discover the graveyard

were where they discover the graveyard in the middle of the desert where these

in the middle of the desert where these

in the middle of the desert where these people who are buried in this looks for

people who are buried in this looks for

people who are buried in this looks for all the world like a little Medina in

all the world like a little Medina in

all the world like a little Medina in the middle of the desert the head of

the middle of the desert the head of

the middle of the desert the head of each grave or each grave is covered by

each grave or each grave is covered by

each grave or each grave is covered by an overturned wooden boat

an overturned wooden boat

an overturned wooden boat and we can compare there we go paddle at

and we can compare there we go paddle at

and we can compare there we go paddle at the top of it and we can compare this

the top of it and we can compare this

the top of it and we can compare this directly with the Viking practice of

directly with the Viking practice of

directly with the Viking practice of using their longships as the roof of

using their longships as the roof of

using their longships as the roof of their temporary shelters when they first

their temporary shelters when they first

their temporary shelters when they first arrived in Iceland and then in Greenland

arrived in Iceland and then in Greenland

arrived in Iceland and then in Greenland and about a thousand years ago at

and about a thousand years ago at

and about a thousand years ago at Lancome Meadows in the northern tip of

Lancome Meadows in the northern tip of

Lancome Meadows in the northern tip of the allure and here in North America so

the allure and here in North America so

the allure and here in North America so what drives all this expansion what

what drives all this expansion what

what drives all this expansion what drives this Newton I think that there’s

drives this Newton I think that there’s

drives this Newton I think that there’s a little clue in the indo-european

a little clue in the indo-european

a little clue in the indo-european language itself and there’s a route that

language itself and there’s a route that

language itself and there’s a route that I want to in English it shows up as both

I want to in English it shows up as both

I want to in English it shows up as both the words new and now we have it in

the words new and now we have it in

the words new and now we have it in Hittite language I’m referring to a lot

Hittite language I’m referring to a lot

Hittite language I’m referring to a lot today which is written on cuneiform

today which is written on cuneiform

today which is written on cuneiform tablets baked in clay there’s no

tablets baked in clay there’s no

tablets baked in clay there’s no punctuation but you find the beginning

punctuation but you find the beginning

punctuation but you find the beginning of each sentence with a little symbol

of each sentence with a little symbol

of each sentence with a little symbol for the word the middle which largest

for the word the middle which largest

for the word the middle which largest sentence we have tinea in Greek what’s

sentence we have tinea in Greek what’s

sentence we have tinea in Greek what’s going on with you and Latin we’ve moved

going on with you and Latin we’ve moved

going on with you and Latin we’ve moved how are ya what’s up I want to draw a

how are ya what’s up I want to draw a

how are ya what’s up I want to draw a line between this little particle and

line between this little particle and

line between this little particle and the expansion that we are our part of I

the expansion that we are our part of I

the expansion that we are our part of I want to say that the indo-europeans

want to say that the indo-europeans

want to say that the indo-europeans placed not only expected each moment to

placed not only expected each moment to

placed not only expected each moment to be new and different than that was

be new and different than that was

be new and different than that was preceded and that was after a taste a

preceded and that was after a taste a

preceded and that was after a taste a value on it

value on it

value on it and that this value inevitably led to

and that this value inevitably led to

and that this value inevitably led to the need to change our environment to

the need to change our environment to

the need to change our environment to change the scenery to learn new things

change the scenery to learn new things

change the scenery to learn new things to go further that is maybe different

to go further that is maybe different

to go further that is maybe different it’s what causes us to go down to the

it’s what causes us to go down to the

it’s what causes us to go down to the sea and ships which will reach for the

sea and ships which will reach for the

sea and ships which will reach for the stars and I want to draw a line and say

stars and I want to draw a line and say

stars and I want to draw a line and say that describe convinces itself even here

that describe convinces itself even here

that describe convinces itself even here and now as we sit and learn new things

and now as we sit and learn new things

and now as we sit and learn new things about ourselves

about ourselves

about ourselves that we a that we are in our place in it

that we a that we are in our place in it

that we a that we are in our place in it and by doing so we better ourselves

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

”

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