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: Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD): Hokusai's The Great Wave

Hokusai's The Great Wave

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor with a familiar image - Hokusai's The Great Wave.

Neil MacGregor is exploring mass production and mass consumption in the 19th century. Today he is in Japan - with Hokusai's famous print, The Great Wave.

The history of humanity - as told through one hundred objects from the British Museum in London - is once again in Japan. This week Neil MacGregor, the museum's director, is looking at the global economy in the 19th century - at mass production and mass consumption. 

Today he is with an image that rapidly made its way around the world - Hokusai's print, The Great Wave, the now familiar seascape with a snow topped Mount Fuji in the background that became emblematic of the newly emerging Japan. Neil explores the conditions that produced this famous image - with help from Japan watchers Donald Keene and Christine Guth.

Producer: Anthony Denselow


A History of the World in 100 Objects: Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 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.

How industrialisation, mass politics and imperial ambitions changed the world.

Neil MacGregor uses five objects to highlight the world-wide consequences of shifts in the balance of economic, political and imperial power in the 19th century.

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Hokusai's The Great Wave

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