A History of the World in 100 Objects

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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 First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC): King Den's Sandal Label

King Den's Sandal Label

The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects. Today, a great Pharaoh's sandal label

Neil MacGregor revisits the early days of a great civilisation to study one of the earliest Egyptian kings through the sandal label that accompanied him to the afterlife.

This week, Director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor investigates the impact on human society of large numbers of people coming together in the world's first cities between 5000 and 2000 BC.  As they did so, they developed new trade links,  the first handwriting, and new forms of leadership and beliefs. 

All of these innovations are present in today's object; a small label made of hippo ivory that was attached to the sandal that one of the earliest known kings of Egypt, King Den, took his grave. The label not only depicts the king in battle against unknown foes but also boasts the first writing in this history of the world - hieroglyphs that describe the king and his military conquests. 

Neil MacGregor and contributors consider whether this is just the first indication that there would never be civilisation without war

A History of the World in 100 Objects: The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

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

What happens as people move from villages to cities? Five objects tell the story.

Five objects from the British Museum's collection tell the story of the emergence of the earliest cities in the river valleys of North Africa and Asia

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

King Den's Sandal Label

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