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: Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820): Australian Bark Shield

Australian bark shield

Australian Bark Shield

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

BBC Radio 4 - A History of the World in 100 Objects, Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820), Australian Bark Shield

Neil MacGregor with a bark shield brought from Australia by Captain Cook

Neil MacGregor is looking at Europe's engagement with the rest of the world during the 18th century. Today, a bark shield brought from Australia by Captain Cook.

The history of humanity as told through one hundred objects from the British Museum in London. This week, Neil MacGregor, the Director of the Museum, is looking at Europe's engagement with the rest of the world during the 18th century. 

Today he is with an object "freighted with layers of history, legend, global politics and race relations". It is a shield from Australia, originally owned by one of the men to first set eyes on Europeans as they descended on Botany Bay nearly 250 years ago. This remarkably well-preserved object was brought to England by the explorer Captain Cook. What can this object tell us about the early encounter between two such different cultures? Phil Gordon, the aboriginal Heritage Officer at the Australian Museum in Sydney, and the historian Maria Nugent help tell the story. 

Producer: Anthony Denselow

A History of the World in 100 Objects: Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

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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.

Neil MacGregor on the misunderstandings that can happen when different worlds collide.

Neil MacGregor goes back to the 18th century to look at the Age of the European Enlightenment, through five objects from different cultures around the world.

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

Australian Bark Shield

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