The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

Jade Axe

Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects - a 6,000-year-old axe found in Kent.

• 14 mins

The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

Early Writing Tablet

Neil MacGregor explores early writing through a 5,000-year-old tablet about beer!

• 14 mins

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

Flood tablet

Neil MacGregor's world history - an account of a great flood much older than the Bible.

• 14 mins

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

Rhind Mathematical Papyrus

Neil MacGregor describes man's early calculations on an Egyptian papyrus fragment

• 14 mins

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

Minoan Bull Leaper

Neil MacGregor's history arrives at a Minoan treasure and a dangerous hobby from 1700 BC

• 14 mins

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

Mold Gold Cape

Neil MacGregor tells the story of a gold cape found in Wales and made over 3500 years ago.

• 14 mins

The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)

Statue of Ramesses

The world of Egypt as ruled by Ramesses II and told through one of his giant statues

• 14 mins

Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)

Lachish Reliefs

Neil MacGregor's world history continues with images of war made over 2500 years ago

• 14 mins

Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)

Sphinx of Taharqo

Neil MacGregor's history of the world told through objects; a sphinx with a pharaoh's head

• 14 mins

Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)

Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel

Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects arrives in China 3000 years ago

• 14 mins

Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)

Paracas Textile Fragment

Neil MacGregor's world history through objects. Today: ancient textiles from Peru

• 14 mins

Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)

Gold Coin of Croesus

Neil MacGregor's retelling of history through objects - gold coins of Croesus

• 14 mins

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

Oxus Chariot Model

Neil MacGregor tells the story of a tiny gold chariot from ancient Persia.

• 14 mins

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

Parthenon Sculpture: Centaur + Lapith

Neil MacGregor with some of the world's most disputed objects - the Parthenon sculptures

• 14 mins

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

Basse Yutz Flagons

Neil MacGregor continues his material history of humanity, with the early Celts.

• 14 mins

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

Olmec Stone Mask

Neil MacGregor's history of the world tells of a forgotten people of ancient Mexico.

• 14 mins

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

Chinese Bronze Bell

Neil Macgregor tells the story of a Chinese bronze bell from the age of Confucius

• 14 mins

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

Head of Alexander

Neil MacGregor is with the great rulers of the world over 2000 years ago.

• 14 mins

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

Pillar of Ashoka

Neil MacGregor on the life and legacy of the great Indian ruler Ashoka

• 14 mins

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

Rosetta Stone

Neil MacGregor with one of the past's most recognisable objects; the Rosetta Stone

• 14 mins

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

Chinese Han lacquer cup

Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects arrives in Han Dynasty China

• 14 mins

Empire Builders (300 BC - AD 10)

Head of Augustus

The 2000 year old bronze head of one of the world's most famous rulers - Caesar Augustus

• 14 mins

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

Warren Cup

Neil MacGregor and a Roman silver cup with the power to shock.

• 14 mins

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

North American otter pipe

Neil MacGregor and a 2,000-year-old stone pipe from North America.

• 14 mins

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

Ceremonial ballgame belt

Neil MacGregor discovers the oldest ball game on earth.

• 14 mins

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

Admonitions Scroll

Neil MacGregor and an ancient Chinese scroll that rules on how women should behave.

• 14 mins

Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)

Hoxne pepper pot

Neil MacGregor uses a silver pepper pot to tell of the Roman spice trade with India.

• 14 mins

The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD)

Seated Buddha from Gandhara

Neil MacGregor with one of world religion's most iconic images - the Buddha.

• 14 mins

The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD)

Gold coin of Kumaragupta I

Neil MacGregor with gold coins from North India.

• 14 mins

The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD)

Silver plate showing Shapur II

Neil MacGregor, with a dramatic image of power and faith from ancient Iran.

• 14 mins

The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD)

Hinton St Mary Mosaic

Neil MacGregor encounters one of the earliest images of Christ.

• 14 mins

The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD)

Arabian bronze hand

A mysterious bronze hand tells the story of religious belief in Arabia before Islam.

• 14 mins

The Silk Road And Beyond (400 - 700 AD)

Gold Coins of Abd al-Malik

Neil MacGregor with gold coins from Syria and the transformation of the Middle East.

• 14 mins

The Silk Road And Beyond (400 - 700 AD)

Sutton Hoo helmet

Neil MacGregor with one of the most sensational finds from Anglo-Saxon Britain.

• 14 mins

The Silk Road And Beyond (400 - 700 AD)

Moche warrior pot

Neil MacGregor with a warrior figure from a lost people of Peru.

• 14 mins

The Silk Road And Beyond (400 - 700 AD)

Korean roof tile

Neil MacGregor delves into the history of an artefact from Korea.

• 14 mins

The Silk Road And Beyond (400 - 700 AD)

Silk princess painting

Neil MacGregor continues his history of the world with a painting from the Silk Road.

• 14 mins

Inside The Palace: Secrets At Court (700 - 950 AD)

Maya relief of royal blood-letting

Neil Macgregor with a disturbing, bloody image from the ancient Mayan civilisation

• 14 mins

Inside The Palace: Secrets At Court (700 - 950 AD)

Harem wall painting fragments

Neil MacGregor with mysterious faces from the harem in an ancient city north of Baghdad

• 14 mins

Inside The Palace: Secrets At Court (700 - 950 AD)

Lothair Crystal

Neil MacGregor with an engraved crystal and royal intrigue at the heart of Europe

• 14 mins

Inside The Palace: Secrets At Court (700 - 950 AD)

Statue of Tara

Neil MacGregor with a beguiling statue of the Buddhist deity Tara

• 14 mins

Inside The Palace: Secrets At Court (700 - 950 AD)

Chinese Tang tomb figures

Neil MacGregor with a collection of tomb figures from Tang dynasty China

• 14 mins

Pilgrims, Raiders and Traders (900 - 1300 AD)

Vale of York Hoard

Neil Macgregor with a great Viking hoard from the Vale of York.

• 14 mins

Pilgrims, Raiders and Traders (900 - 1300 AD)

Hedwig glass beaker

Neil MacGregor with a glass vessel linked with a saintly miracle worker.

• 14 mins

Pilgrims, Raiders and Traders (900 - 1300 AD)

Japanese bronze mirror

Neil MacGregor with a bronze mirror from a sacred pond in Japan.

• 14 mins

Pilgrims, Raiders and Traders (900 - 1300 AD)

Borobudur Buddha head

Neil MacGregor with a head of the Buddha from Borobudur.

• 14 mins

Pilgrims, Raiders and Traders (900 - 1300 AD)

Kilwa pot sherds

Neil MacGregor - unlocking secrets with broken pots from East Africa.

• 14 mins

Status Symbols (1200 - 1400 AD)

Lewis Chessmen

Neil Macgregor's history through objects - today the famous Lewis chessmen.

• 14 mins

Status Symbols (1200 - 1400 AD)

Hebrew astrolabe

Neil MacGregor with an extraordinary astronomical instrument.

• 14 mins

Status Symbols (1200 - 1400 AD)

Ife head

Neil MacGregor with a magnificent brass head from the African city of Ife.

• 14 mins

Status Symbols (1200 - 1400 AD)

The David Vases

Neil MacGregor - and the transformation of ordinary clay into beautiful Chinese porcelain.

• 14 mins

Status Symbols (1200 - 1400 AD)

Taino ritual seat

Neil MacGregor with a ritual seat from a Caribbean culture that has been destroyed.

• 14 mins

Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

Holy Thorn Reliquary

Neil MacGregor with a reliquary made for a thorn from Christ's crown of thorns.

• 14 mins

Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy

Neil MacGregor with a 14th century icon from the Byzantine Empire.

• 14 mins

Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

Shiva and Parvati sculpture

Neil MacGregor with a stone sculpture of the Hindu deity Shiva and his consort Parvati.

• 14 mins

Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

Statue of Huastec goddess

Neil MacGregor with the sculpture of a goddess made by the Huastec people of Mexico.

• 14 mins

Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

Hoa Hakananai'a Easter Island statue

Neil MacGregor with one of the extraordinary giant figures from Easter Island.

• 14 mins

The Threshold of the Modern World (1375-1550 AD)

Tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent

Neil Macgregor with the personal monogram of Suleyman the Magnificent.

• 14 mins

The Threshold of the Modern World (1375-1550 AD)

Ming banknote

Neil MacGregor with a 14th century bank note - from Ming Dynasty China.

• 14 mins

The Threshold of the Modern World (1375-1550 AD)

Inca gold llama

Neil MacGregor with a model of a llama - the animal behind the Inca Empire.

• 14 mins

The Threshold of the Modern World (1375-1550 AD)

Jade dragon cup

Neil MacGregor with a jade cup that belonged a great leader of the Timurid Empire.

• 14 mins

The Threshold of the Modern World (1375-1550 AD)

Durer's Rhinoceros

Neil MacGregor with Durer's extraordinary image of a rhino - an animal he had never seen.

• 14 mins

The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)

The mechanical galleon

Neil Macgregor with a clockwork galleon designed for a grand dinner table.

• 14 mins

The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)

Benin plaque - the Oba with Europeans

Neil MacGregor with some of the best examples of African art, the great plaques of Benin.

• 14 mins

The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)

Double-headed serpent

Neil MacGregor with one of the stars of the British Museum - an Aztec serpent

• 14 mins

The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)

Kakiemon elephants

Neil MacGregor with porcelain white elephants from Japan.

• 14 mins

The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)

Pieces of eight

Neil MacGregor with the first truly global money - silver pieces of eight.

• 14 mins

Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

Shi'a Religious Parade Standard

Neil Macgregor with a powerful symbol from Shia Iran.

• 14 mins

Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

Miniature of a Mughal Prince

Neil MacGregor with a miniature painting from Mughal India.

• 14 mins

Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

Shadow Puppet of Bima

Neil MacGregor explores religion and politics in South East Asia through a shadow puppet.

• 14 mins

Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

Mexican Codex Map

Neil MacGregor explores the Spanish religious conquest of Mexico with a map.

• 14 mins

Tolerance and Intolerance (AD 1550-1700)

Reformation Centenary Broadsheet

Neil MacGregor with a souvenir of the 100th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

• 14 mins

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

Akan Drum

Neil MacGregor with an African drum taken to America during the slave trade

• 14 mins

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

Hawaiian feather helmet

Neil MacGregor with a feathered helmet given to Captain Cook by Pacific Islanders.

• 15 mins

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

North American Buckskin Map

Neil MacGregor with a buckskin map from North America

• 14 mins

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

Australian Bark Shield

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

• 14 mins

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (AD 1680-1820)

Jade bi

Neil MacGregor with an object from the 18th-century Chinese Enlightenment - a jade disc

• 14 mins

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle

Neil MacGregor with a chronometer that accompanied Darwin to South America.

• 14 mins

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Early Victorian tea set

Neil MacGregor tells the story of the global trade in tea - with a Victorian tea set.

• 14 mins

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Hokusai's The Great Wave

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

• 14 mins

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Sudanese slit drum

Neil MacGregor with a wooden drum from Sudan that Kitchener presented to Queen Victoria.

• 14 mins

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Suffragette-defaced penny

Neil MacGregor with a penny coin defaced by suffragettes with the words "Votes for women".

• 14 mins