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: Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD): Hoxne pepper pot

Hoxne Pepper Pot

Hoxne pepper pot

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor uses a silver pepper pot to tell of the Roman spice trade with India.

The history of the world told through objects. Today, the Roman spice trade with India, as told through a silver pepper pot that was found as part of a buried hoard.

Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects at the British Museum arrives in Britain at the time of the Roman collapse. Throughout this week he has been looking at how different cultures around the globe were pursuing pleasure, roughly 2000 years ago, from smoking in North America to team sports in Central America. 

Today, Neil looks at how the elite of Roman Britain sustained their appetite for luxury goods and good living in the years before their demise. He tells the story through a silver pepper pot that was discovered as part of a buried hoard - hidden possibly by Romans on the run. He describes the ambitions of the elite in Roman Britain and how they satisfied their particular taste for pepper, with contributions from the food writer Christine McFadden and historian Roberta Tomber.  

Producer: Anthony Denselow

A History of the World in 100 Objects: Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

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 explores the ways in which people sought pleasure 2,000 years ago

Throughout this week Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, explores the ways in which people sought pleasure around the world 2,000 years ago: from pipe smoking to sex

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

Hoxne pepper pot

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