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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Factual: History

Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, retells humanity's history through objects

Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, narrates 100 programmes that retell humanity's history through the objects we have made.

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A History of the World in 100 Objects: The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC): Statue of Ramesses

Statue of Ramesses II

Statue of Ramesses

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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The world of Egypt as ruled by Ramesses II and told through one of his giant statues

Neil MacGregor explores the life and culture of ancient Egypt through the statue of Ramesses II that towers over British Museum visitors. Antony Gormley reflects on the work as art

A History of the World in 100 Objects has arrived in Egypt around 1250BC. At the heart of this programme is the British Museum's giant statue of the king Ramesses II, an inspiration to Shelly and a remarkable ruler who build monuments all over Egypt. He inspired a line of future pharaohs and was worshipped as a god a thousand years later. He lived to be over 90 and fathered some 100 children! Neil MacGregor considers the achievements of Ramesses II in fixing the image of imperial Egypt for the rest of the world. And the sculptor Antony Gormley, the man responsible for a contemporary giant statue, The Angel of the North, considers the towering figure of Ramesses as an enduring work of art.

A History of the World in 100 Objects: The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

4,000 years ago, societies began to express themselves through myth, maths and monuments

4,000 years ago societies were becoming more sophisticated. Among this week's objects are the earliest examples of literature and science

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

Statue of Ramesses

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