Indo-European: The Language Family That Went Global
Summary
Host Thomas Small interviews author Laura Spinney about her book *Proto*, which traces the origins and global spread of the Indo-European language family. Spinney explains how linguists, archaeologists, and geneticists use the comparative method and ancient DNA to reconstruct Proto-Indo-European, spoken by mobile herders on the Eurasian steppe. The discussion challenges old myths about patriarchal invaders conquering peaceful matriarchal societies, revealing a complex history driven by migration, disease, and cultural exchange rather than simple conquest.
Topics discussed
Introduction and podcast origins
Defining Proto-Indo-European and language families
History of linguistic science and the Tower of Babel
Reconstructing ancient languages and evolutionary models
Archaeology, genetics, and the search for origins
The Yamnaya culture and steppe nomads
Gender roles, violence, and social structures
Tocharian languages and the Silk Road
Indo-Iranic migration and the Vedas
Spread in Europe, disease, and political misuse
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