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It was early nomads in Central Asia some 6,000 years ago who first rode horses, Cranston reports. Among many unexpected benefits the horse spurred was pants. Citizens of ancient Rome wore tunics, which were impractical for riding horses, as Roman soldiers must have realized anew while battling barbarian enemies who sported this sartorial innovation. The Roman cavalry soon got on board. From there, pants became the rage for clotheshorses the world over. Prior to the H2 series, Big History began as a course developed to help students better understand the world by revealing "big picture" connections between different fields of study. A free, online version is available online. "I love learning how a moment in history carries through to today's life," says Cranston. Asked what kind of student he was during his school years, he recalls, "I was good when I wanted to be. And I could get enthused about any subject if a teacher made it come alive. "That's what this series does. It describes the relationship we have to our history. It explains how and why this is important to ME. That's what's key!" ___ Online:
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