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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: Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD): Warren Cup

Warren Cup

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor and a Roman silver cup with the power to shock.

Neil MacGregor's history of the world as told through objects and a silver cup that offers frank insight into the place of homosexuality in ancient Rome.

Throughout this week Neil MacGregor, the director of the British Museum in London, is exploring the ways in which people were seeking pleasure around the world 2000 years ago, from pipe smoking in North America to court etiquette in China. He starts with the Roman Empire and a silver cup that offers a rare glimpse into the world of sex in ancient Rome. The cup features such explicit images of homosexual acts that it was once banned from America and museums refused to buy it. The Warren Cup is now one of the British Museum's better known objects. In today's programme Neil examines the sexual climate of Rome. Just how was sexuality viewed at this time, and why were the Romans so keen to copy the Greeks?  The historians Bettany Hughes and James Davidson help provide the answers.

Producer: Anthony Denselow

A History of the World in 100 Objects: Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

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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.

Neil MacGregor explores the ways in which people sought pleasure 2,000 years ago

Throughout this week Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, explores the ways in which people sought pleasure around the world 2,000 years ago: from pipe smoking to sex

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

Warren Cup

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