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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: Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700): Shi'a Religious Parade Standard

The Shi'a religious parade standard

Shi'a Religious Parade Standard

Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

BBC Radio 4 - A History of the World in 100 Objects, Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700), Shi'a Religious Parade StandardSearch BBC

Neil Macgregor with a powerful symbol from Shia Iran.

Neil MacGregor explores the co-existence of faiths around 400 years ago. Today, he is with one of the great standards that were used in Iran, carried at Shia processions.

Neil MacGregor's world history as told through things. This week he is exploring the development and co-existence of faiths across the globe around 400 years ago, looking at objects from India and Central America, Europe and Indonesia that embody the political consequences of belief. 

Today, he is with a remarkable object from Shia Iran that in the 16th century was open to the co-existence of faiths. The object he has chosen is a symbol of Shia faith, a standard or Alam that was carried at the front of Shia processions. They were often so tall and heavy that they would require great physical strength to handle. Neil visits religious sites in Isfahan to reflect on the spiritual climate of the time. Hossein Pourtahmasbi, from the Iranian community in London and a former alam carrier, describes the tradition. And the Iranian historian Haleh Afshar reflects on the shifting position of Shia Islam within Iran over the centuries. 

Producer: Anthony Denselow

A History of the World in 100 Objects: Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

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 tells how the great religions lived together in the C16th and C17th.

Neil MacGregor charts the relationships between faiths across the globe around 400 years ago, looking at objects from India and Central America, Europe and Indonesia.

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

Shi'a Religious Parade Standard

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