The World in the Age of Confucius (500 - 300 BC)

Synopsis

Another chance to hear the Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, retell the history of human development using 100 selected objects from the Museum. This week, in the last of the current run of Omnibus programmes, he explores the emergence of powerful new cultures and new rulers across the world, around two and a half thousand years ago. Accompanied by the likes of Carlos Fuentes, Evelyn Glennie, Olga Palagia, Jonathan Meades, Sir Barry Cunliffe and Isabel Hilton, Neil considers the wider historical significance of: a small gold chariot from the Persian Empire of Cyrus; one of the contested marble sculptures from the Parthenon; a pair of bronze drinking flagons from Northern Europe; a small Mexican mask from the "mother culture" of central America whose existence was only uncovered in the past hundred years; and a bronze bell from China in the time of Confucius.

Producers: Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrak.