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.

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

Chinese Han lacquer cup

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects arrives in Han Dynasty China

The history of the world as told through objects at the British Museum. Today, the imperial ambitions of Han Dynasty China as described through a beautiful lacquer cup

In a week of programmes exploring the nature of power and the emergence of new rulers around the world 2000 years ago, Neil MacGregor takes us to Han Dynasty China. He tells the story of how the Chinese maintained loyalty and control by dispensing luxury gifts. He describes the world of the imperial Han through an exquisite lacquer wine cup that was probably given by the emperor to one of his military commanders in North Korea. The historian Roel Sterckx underlines the importance of lacquer for the period while writer Isabel Hilton looks at how the production of goods under state control has remained a consistent interest of the Chinese.

Producer: Anthony Denselow 

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

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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)

Chinese Han lacquer cup

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