A new historical simulation suggests humanity once possessed far greater linguistic diversity than previously believed. Researchers estimate that potentially tens of thousands of languages have been spoken since the advent of agriculture and settled life. This challenges the notion of a steady decline in languages over time, proposing instead a complex history of proliferation and loss. The simulation models language evolution considering factors like migration, isolation, and population growth. While the exact number remains uncertain, the study highlights a possible “golden age” of linguistic diversity roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamic nature of human communication and its long-term trajectory.