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 Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD): Kakiemon elephants

Kakiemon elephants

The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor with porcelain white elephants from Japan.

Neil MacGregor's history through objects is exploring the world between 1450 and 1600. Today he tells the story of a pair of white elephants - fine porcelain from Japan.

The history of humanity as told through one hundred objects from the British Museum in London is this week exploring the world at the time of European discovery - between 1450 and 1600. Today Neil MacGregor is with a pair of white elephants, the size of small dogs. They come from Japan, are made of fine porcelain and take Neil on a journey that connects Japan to Korea and China and to a growing trade network in Western Europe. How did the great skill of porcelain production spread across the Far East? Why elephants? And how did these objects become so desirable to the European elite? He discovers the specific technique of this porcelain style (and traces it to a Japanese potter called Kakiemon) and follows other examples of this same pottery to an English country house. Miranda Rock describes the Kakiemon collection at Burghley House, the present day Kakiemon potter discusses his work and the Korean porcelain expert Gina Ha-Gorian explains how the detailed technology for porcelain production spread. 

Producer: Anthony Denselow


A History of the World in 100 Objects: The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 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 traces the impact of travel, trade and conquest from 1450 to 1600.

Neil MacGregor uses objects from around the world to chart Europe's expanding maritime trade and empires that created the first global economy between 1450 and 1600.

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)

Kakiemon elephants

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