A History of the World in 100 Objects Podcast
Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, narrates 100 programmes that retell humanity's history through the objects we have made.
Episodes to download
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Seated Buddha from Gandhara—The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD)
Mon 31 May 2010
1/5 Neil MacGregor with one of world religion's most iconic images - the Buddha.
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Hoxne pepper pot—Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)
Fri 28 May 2010
5/5 Neil MacGregor uses a silver pepper pot to tell of the Roman spice trade with India.
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Admonitions Scroll—Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)
Thu 27 May 2010
4/5 Neil MacGregor and an ancient Chinese scroll that rules on how women should behave.
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Ceremonial ballgame belt—Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)
Wed 26 May 2010
3/5 Neil MacGregor discovers the oldest ball game on earth.
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North American otter pipe—Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)
Tue 25 May 2010
2/5 Neil MacGregor and a 2,000-year-old stone pipe from North America.
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Warren Cup—Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)
Mon 24 May 2010
1/5 Neil MacGregor and a Roman silver cup with the power to shock.
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Head of Augustus—Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)
Fri 21 May 2010
5/5 The 2000 year old bronze head of one of the world's most famous rulers - Caesar Augustus
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Chinese Han lacquer cup—Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)
Thu 20 May 2010
4/5 Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects arrives in Han Dynasty China
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Rosetta Stone—Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)
Wed 19 May 2010
3/5 Neil MacGregor with one of the past's most recognisable objects; the Rosetta Stone
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Pillar of Ashoka—Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)
Tue 18 May 2010
2/5 Neil MacGregor on the life and legacy of the great Indian ruler Ashoka
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Head of Alexander—Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)
Mon 17 May 2010
1/5 Neil MacGregor is with the great rulers of the world over 2000 years ago.
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Chinese Bronze Bell—The World in the Age of Confucius (500 - 300 BC)
Fri 26 Feb 2010
5/5 Neil Macgregor tells the story of a Chinese bronze bell from the age of Confucius
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Olmec Stone Mask—The World in the Age of Confucius (500 - 300 BC)
Thu 25 Feb 2010
4/5 Neil MacGregor's history of the world tells of a forgotten people of ancient Mexico.
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Basse Yutz Flagons—The World in the Age of Confucius (500 - 300 BC)
Wed 24 Feb 2010
3/5 Neil MacGregor continues his material history of humanity, with the early Celts.
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Parthenon Sculpture: Centaur + Lapith—The World in the Age of Confucius (500 - 300 BC)
Tue 23 Feb 2010
2/5 Neil MacGregor with some of the world's most disputed objects - the Parthenon sculptures
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Oxus Chariot Model—The World in the Age of Confucius (500 - 300 BC)
Mon 22 Feb 2010
1/5 Neil MacGregor tells the story of a tiny gold chariot from ancient Persia.
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Gold Coin of Croesus—Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)
Fri 19 Feb 2010
5/5 Neil MacGregor's retelling of history through objects - gold coins of Croesus
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Paracas Textile Fragment—Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)
Thu 18 Feb 2010
4/5 Neil MacGregor's world history through objects. Today: ancient textiles from Peru
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Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel—Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)
Wed 17 Feb 2010
3/5 Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects arrives in China 3000 years ago
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Sphinx of Taharqo—Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)
Tue 16 Feb 2010
2/5 Neil MacGregor's history of the world told through objects; a sphinx with a pharaoh's head
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Lachish Reliefs—Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)
Mon 15 Feb 2010
1/5 Neil MacGregor's world history continues with images of war made over 2500 years ago
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Statue of Ramesses—The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)
Fri 12 Feb 2010
5/5 The world of Egypt as ruled by Ramesses II and told through one of his giant statues
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Mold Gold Cape—The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)
Thu 11 Feb 2010
4/5 Neil MacGregor tells the story of a gold cape found in Wales and made over 3500 years ago.
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Minoan Bull Leaper—The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)
Wed 10 Feb 2010
3/5 Neil MacGregor's history arrives at a Minoan treasure and a dangerous hobby from 1700 BC
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Rhind Mathematical Papyrus—The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)
Tue 9 Feb 2010
2/5 Neil MacGregor describes man's early calculations on an Egyptian papyrus fragment
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Flood tablet—The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)
Mon 8 Feb 2010
1/5 Neil MacGregor's world history - an account of a great flood much older than the Bible.
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Early Writing Tablet—The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)
Fri 5 Feb 2010
5/5 Neil MacGregor explores early writing through a 5,000-year-old tablet about beer!
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Jade Axe—The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)
Thu 4 Feb 2010
4/5 Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects - a 6,000-year-old axe found in Kent.
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Indus Seal—The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)
Wed 3 Feb 2010
3/5 Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects - stone seals from the Indus Valley.
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Standard of Ur—The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)
Tue 2 Feb 2010
2/5 Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects. Today, battle scenes from Iraq.
Shakespeare's Restless World
Neil MacGregor uncovers Shakespeare's world through twenty objects.
