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 Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC): Minoan Bull Leaper

Minoan Bull Leaper

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor's history arrives at a Minoan treasure and a dangerous hobby from 1700 BC

Neil MacGregor's history arrives at a Minoan treasure and a particularly strenuous hobby from 1700BC.

Neil MacGregor's retelling of the history of humanity, using objects from the British Museum's own collection, arrives in Crete around 1700BC. The programme tells the story of man's fascination with bulls and the emergence of one of most cosmopolitan and prosperous civilisations in the history of the Eastern Mediterranean - the Minoans. The Minoans of Crete were more powerful than the mainland and enjoyed a complex and still largely unknown culture. They enjoyed a ritual connection with bulls as well as with a rich bronze making tradition. To consider the Minoans and the role of the bull in myth and legend, Neil MacGregor introduces us to a small bronze sculpture of a man leaping over a bull, one of the highlights of the British Museum's Minoan collection. He explores the vast network of trade routes in the Mediterranean of the time, encounters an ancient shipwreck and tracks down a modern day bull leaper to try and figure out the attraction!

A History of the World in 100 Objects: The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 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.

4,000 years ago, societies began to express themselves through myth, maths and monuments

4,000 years ago societies were becoming more sophisticated. Among this week's objects are the earliest examples of literature and science

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

Minoan Bull Leaper

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