A History of the World in 100 Objects
Summary: Welcome to A History of the World. Below you can find all 100 episodes in the series. Although the series has ended, you can continue to listen to the episodes on this page or download them to keep on your computer or mp3 player by following the links on the right.
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- Artist: BBC Radio 4
- Copyright: (C) BBC 2012
Podcasts:
Ceramic figures from the burial of a Chinese Tang general. Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, describes how, around 700 AD, the elite of China's Tang Dynasty chose to leave their mark on the world by writing or commissioning their own obituaries. China scholar Oliver Moore explains the ambitions of the dynasty and journalist Anthony Howard describes the power of the obituary.
Statue of female Buddhist deity Tara from Sri Lanka, who represents mercy and compassion. Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, explores what was happening in South Asia during Europe's medieval period. He tells the story through a statue, which was crafted for a powerful ruler in Sri Lanka 1,200 years ago. Richard Gombrich and Nira Wickramasinghe contribute.
Crystal engraved with images from the Biblical story of Susanna. Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, looks at the Lothair Crystal, made in the mid-9th century and showing scenes of Susanna, wife of a rich merchant, falsely accused of adultery. The crystal was intended to exemplify the proper functioning of justice but, intriguingly, the king it was made for was himself trying to have his marriage annulled so he could marry his mistress.
Portraits from a wall painting of women from the caliph’s palace in Samara. Director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor explains what life was really like in the great court in the ancient city of Samara, north of Baghdad - one of the great Muslim capitals of the world. The paintings offer a vivid insight into the lives of the rulers of the Abbasid court and the slave women whose job was to entertain them.
