Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (1680 - 1820 AD)

Australian bark shield

Neil MacGregor with an aboriginal bark shield brought from Australia by Captain Cook.

• 15 mins

Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (1680 - 1820 AD)

Jade bi

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

• 18 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.

• 15 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

• 15 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

• 15 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.

• 15 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

• 15 mins

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle

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

• 15 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.

• 15 mins

Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)

Hokusai's The Great Wave

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

• 15 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.

• 15 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".

• 18 mins

The World of Our Making (1914 - 2010 AD)

Russian revolutionary plate

Neil MacGregor nears the end of his world history - with a Russian revolutionary plate.

• 15 mins

The World of Our Making (1914 - 2010 AD)

Hockney's In the Dull Village

Neil MacGregor considers the state of human rights - with a David Hockney print.

• 15 mins

The World of Our Making (1914 - 2010 AD)

Throne of Weapons

Neil MacGregor with an African throne - made from decommissioned guns.

• 15 mins

The World of Our Making (1914 - 2010 AD)

Credit card

Neil MacGregor with a credit card - one that is compliant with Sharia law.

• 15 mins

The World of Our Making (1914 - 2010 AD)

Solar-powered lamp and charger

Neil MacGregor's last object in his world history - a solar-powered lamp and charger.

• 18 mins

The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

King Den's Sandal Label

Neil MacGregor's world history told through objects. Today, a great Pharaoh's sandal label

• 15 mins

The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

Standard of Ur

Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects. Today, battle scenes from Iraq.

• 15 mins

The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)

Indus Seal

Neil MacGregor's global history told through objects - stone seals from the Indus Valley.

• 15 mins

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!

• 15 mins

A History of the World: Object 101

Neil MacGregor updates his famous radio series with an object chosen to represent 2020.

• 37 mins