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: Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10): Head of Alexander

Head of Alexander

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor is with the great rulers of the world over 2000 years ago.

Another chance to hear Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects from the British Museum. This week he is with the great rulers of the world over 2000 years ago.

Another chance to hear the first programmes in the second part of Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects from the British Museum. This week Neil is exploring the lives and methods of powerful rulers around the world 2000 years ago, asking what enduring qualities are needed for the perfect projection of power. 

Contributors include the economist Amartya Sen, the politician Boris Johnson, political commentator Andrew Marr and the writer Ahdaf Soueif. 

Neil begins by telling the story of Alexander the Great through a small silver coin, one that was made years after his death but that portrays an idealised image of the great leader as a vigorous young man. Neil then considers how the great Indian ruler Ashoka turned his back on violence and plunder to promote the ethical codes inspired by Buddhism. Neil tells the life story of Ashoka through a remaining fragment of one of his great pillar edicts and considers his legacy in the Indian sub-continent today. The third object in today's omnibus is one of the best known in the British Museum, the Rosetta Stone. Neil takes us to the Egypt of Ptolemy V and describes the astonishing contest that led to the most famous bits of deciphering in history - the cracking of the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone. An exquisite lacquer wine cup takes Neil to Han Dynasty China in the fourth programme and the omnibus concludes with the 2000 year old head of one of the world's most notorious rulers - Caesar Augustus. 

Producers: Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrak.

A History of the World in 100 Objects: Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

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 launches the second part of his history of the world told through objects

Neil MacGregor continues his global history told through objects. This week he is with the great rulers of the world around 2,000 years ago

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

Head of Alexander

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