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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: Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC): Sphinx of Taharqo

Sphinx of Taharqo

Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

BBC Radio 4 - A History of the World in 100 Objects, Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC), Sphinx of Taharqo

Neil MacGregor's history of the world told through objects; a sphinx with a pharaoh's head

This week Neil MacGregor describes the movement of great powers around the globe some 3000 years ago. Today, how Egypt was conquered by Sudan and the black sphinx that proves it

Throughout this week, Neil MacGregor is describing power struggles across the globe around 3000 years ago, as ambitious new forces set about building sophisticated new societies - from the Middle East to South America. 

Today he describes what was happening along the River Nile and how a powerful new king conquered Egypt from Sudan.  His name was Taharqo and he ruled from a vibrant new civilisation (in modern day Sudan) called Kush. These days few people even know that the mighty land of the Pharaohs was once ruled over by its southern neighbour. The evidence is summed up by a sculpture at the British Museum that shows the ruler from Kush as an Egyptian sphinx.

A History of the World in 100 Objects: Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 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.

Across the world new regimes create objects to assert their supremacy.

From the very first coinage to burial shrouds, Neil MacGregor decodes five objects to reveal the ambition of new regimes across the world.

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)

Sphinx of Taharqo

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