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): Standard of Ur

Standard of Ur

The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects. Today, battle scenes from Iraq.

Neil MacGregor describes the discovery of mosaics from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur, now in Southern Iraq. The Standard of Ur shows intricate scenes of battle and regal life.

Neil MacGregor with this week's examination of the first great civilisations with one of the most spectacular discoveries of ancient royal goods.  The magnificent gold and silver jewellery was found nearly 100 years ago at a royal burial site in the City of Ur in Southern Iraq, at the heart of one of the first great civilisations in the world. It leads Neil MacGregor to contemplate the nature of kingship and power in Mesopotamia. The Standard of Ur is a set of mosaic scenes that show powerful images of battle and regal life and that remain remarkably well preserved given its fourand a half thousand year old history.  

Contributors include sociologist Anthony Giddens, on the growing sophistication of societies at this time, and the archaeologist Lamia Al-Gailani who considers what Ancient Mesopotamia means to the people of modern day Iraq.

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)

Standard of Ur

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