Evaluate the main differences between the two leading hypotheses concerning the origins of the Indo-European language family. Name each and discuss its main characteristics

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Answers will vary but may note the following: The Nomadic Warrior hypothesis espoused by Marija Gimbutas identifies the Kurgan people as the first Indo-European speakers. Their homeland was in the Central Asian steppes around 4300 B.C. They were nomadic herders of horses and cattle. Between 3500 and 2500 B.C., Kurgan warriors, using their domesticated horses as weapons, conquered much of Europe and South Asia.
The Sedentary Farmer hypothesis espoused by Colin Renfrew argues that the first speakers of Proto-Indo-European lived 2,000 years before the Kurgans, in eastern Anatolia. Biologist
Russell D. Gray supports the Renfrew position but dates the first speakers even earlier, at around 6700 B.C. Renfrew believes they diffused from Anatolia westward to Greece (the origin of the Greek language branch) and from Greece westward toward Italy, Sicily, Corsica, the Mediterranean coast of France, Spain, and Portugal (the origin of the Romance language branch). From the Mediterranean coast, the speakers migrated northward toward central and northern France and on to the British Isles (perhaps the origin of the Celtic language branch). Indo-European is also said to have diffused northward from Greece toward the Danube River (Romania) and westward to central Europe, according to Renfrew. From there the language diffused northward toward the Baltic Sea.