A History of the World in 100 Objects

Last Edited: 04-Oct-2019 A Global British Comedy Collaborative document. Edited by John Lucas
Broadcast source is BBC Radio Four unless otherwise indicated. Recording quality is considered good unless otherwise indicated.

Date
Title
Cast
Parameters
18-Jan-2010 to
22-Jan-2010
Making Us Human (2,000,000-8,000 BC)
  1. Mummy of Hornedjitef
  2. Olduvai Stone Chopping Tool
  3. Olduvai Handaxe
  4. Swimming Reindeer
  5. Clovis Spear Point
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
14:06, 13233, S
13:29, 12656, S
13:34, 12888, S
13:33, 12706, S
13:28, 12632, S
omnibus
57:25, 53829, S
25-Jan-2010 to
29-Jan-2010
After the Ice Age: Food and Sex (8,000-3,000 BC)
  1. Bird-shaped Pestle
  2. Ain Sakri Lovers Figurine
  3. Egyptian Clay Model of Cattle
  4. Maya Maize God Statue
  5. Jomon Pot
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:42, 12849, S
13:14, 12420, S
13:37, 12767, S
13:32, 12692, S
13:43, 12867, S
omnibus
57:04, 53512, S
01-Feb-2010 to
05-Feb-2010
The First Cities and States (4000 - 2000 BC)
  1. King Den's Sandal Label
  2. Standard of Ur
  3. Indus Seal
  4. Jade Axe
  5. Early Writing Tablet
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:14, 12416, S
14:02, 13158, S
13:41, 12836, S
13:42, 12852, S
13:22, 12541, S
omnibus
57:03, 53493, S
08-Feb-2010 to
12-Feb-2010
The Beginning of Science and Literature (1500 - 700 BC)
  1. Flood Tablet
  2. Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
  3. Minoan Bull Leaper
  4. Mold Gold Cape
  5. Statue of Ramesses II
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow, Rebecca Startford, and Paul Kobrack
13:29, 12642, S
13:28, 12628, S
13:37, 12770, S
13:34, 12729, S
13:45, 12906, S
omnibus
56:45, 53218, S
15-Feb-2010 to
19-Feb-2010
Old World, New Powers (1100 - 300 BC)
  1. Lachish Reliefs
  2. Sphinx of Taharqo
  3. Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel
  4. Paracas Textile
  5. Gold Coin of Croesus
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:14, 12416, S
13:05, 12273, S
13:24, 12568, S
13:29, 12648, S
13:35. 12748, S
omnibus
56:54, 53353, S
22-Feb-2010 to
26-Feb-2010
The World in the Age of Confucius (500 - 300 BC)
  1. Oxus Chariot Model
  2. Parthenon Sculpture: Centaur and Lapith
  3. Basse Yutz Flagons
  4. Olmec Stone Mask
  5. Chinese Bronze Bell
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:51, 12987, S
13:37, 12775, S
13:43, 12868, S
13:28, 12631, S
13:42,  2854, S
omnibus
56:50, 53283, S
17-May-2010 to
21-May-2010
Empire Builders (300 BC - 1 AD)
  1. Head of Alexander
  2. Pillar of Ashoka
  3. Rosetta Stone
  4. Chinese Han lacquer cup
  5. Head of Augustus
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:27, 12615, S
13:42, 12860, S
13:32, 12701, S
13:33, 12712, S
13:26, 12599, S
omnibus
57:04, 53506, S
24-May-2010 to
28-May-2010
Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice (1 - 600 AD)
  1. Warren Cup
  2. North American Otter Pipe
  3. Ceremonial Ballgame Belt
  4. Admonitions Scroll
  5. Hoxne Pepper Pot
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:30, 12664, S
13:40, 12817, S
13:45, 12898, S
13:52, 13010, S
13:40, 12829, S
omnibus
56:49, 53277, S
31-May-2010 to
04-Jun-2010
The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD)
  1. Seated Buddha from Gandhara
  2. Gold Coin of Kumaragupta I
  3. Silver Plate Showing Shapur II
  4. Hinton St Mary Mosaic
  5. Arabian Bronze Hand
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:21, 12527, S
13:45, 12892, S
13:41, 12838, S
13:17, 12464, S
13:49, 12964, S
omnibus
56:56, 53390, S
07-Jun-2010 to
11-Jun-2010
The Silk Road And Beyond (400 - 700 AD)
  1. Gold Coins of Abd al-Malik
  2. Sutton Hoo Helmet
  3. Moche Warrior Pot
  4. Korean Roof Tile
  5. Silk Princess Painting
Neil MacGregor
produced by Rebecca Stratford, Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:30, 12672, S
13:24, 12572, S
13:46, 12913, S
13:50, 12982, S
13:35, 12740, S
omnibus
56:56, 53385, S
14-Jun-2010 to
18-Jun-2010
Inside The Palace: Secrets At Court (700 - 950 AD))
  1. Maya Relief of Royal Blood-Letting
  2. Harem wall painting fragments
  3. Lothair Crystal
  4. Statue of Tara
  5. Chinese Tang tomb figures
Neil MacGregor
produced by  Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:32, 12690, S
13:32, 12689, S
13:11, 12368, S
13:14, 12414, S
13:51, 13986, S
omnibus
57:01, 53460, S
21-Jun-2010 to
25-Jun-2010
Pilgrims, Raiders and Traders (900 - 1300 AD) 
  1. Vale of York Hoard
  2. Hedwig glass beaker
  3. Japanese bronze mirror
  4. Borobudur Buddha head
  5. Kilwa pot sherds
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:31, 12677, S
13:43, 12866, S
13:32, 12700, S
13:42, 12858, S
13:27, 12616, S
omnibus
56:53, 53338, S
28-Jun-2010 to
02-Jul-2010
Status Symbols (1200 - 1400 AD)
  1. Lewis Chessmen
  2. Hebrew Astrolabe
  3. Ife Head
  4. The David Vases
  5. Taino Ritual Seat
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:36, 12754, S
13:34, 12736, S
13:39, 12812, S
13:44, 12884, S
13:23, 12555, S
omnibus
56:56, 53376, S
05-Jul-2010 to
09-Jul-2010
Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)
  1. Holy Thorn Reliquary
  2. Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
  3. Shiva and Parvati Sculpture
  4. Statue of Huastec Goddess
  5. Hoa Hakananai'a Easter Island Statue
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:24, 12576, S
13:40, 12814, S
13:36, 12765, S
13:26, 12605, S
13:38, 12788, S
omnibus
56:45, 53217, S
13-Sep-2010 to
17-Sep-2010
The Threshold of the Modern World (1375-1550 AD)
  1. Tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent
  2. Ming Banknote
  3. Inca Gold Llama
  4. Jade Dragon Cup
  5. Durer's Rhinoceros
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:15, 12434, S
13:27, 12620, S
13:39, 12804, S
13:36, 12764, S
13:32, 12700, S
omnibus
56:45, 53214, S
20-Sep-2010 to
24-Sep-2010
The First Global Economy (1450 - 1600 AD)
  1. The mechanical galleon
  2. Benin plaque - the Oba with Europeans
  3. Double-headed serpent
  4. Kakiemon elephants
  5. Pieces of eight
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:20, 12512, S
13:22, 12539, S
13:24, 12574, S
13:28, 12638, S
13:31, 12682, S
omnibus
56:45, 53209, S
27-Sep-2010 to
01-Oct-2010
Tolerance and Intolerance (1550 - 1700 AD)
  1. The Shi'a religious parade standard
  2. Miniature of a Mughal prince
  3. Shadow Puppet of Bima
  4. Mexican codex map
  5. Reformation centenary broadsheet
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:14, 12422, S
13:39, 12808, S
13:32, 12693, S
13:45, 12893, S
13:17, 12454, S
omnibus
56:51, 53310, S
04-Oct-2010 to
08-Oct-2010
Exploration, Exploitation and Enlightenment (1680 - 1820 AD)
  1. Akan drum
  2. Hawaiian feather helmet
  3. North American buckskin map
  4. Australian bark shield
  5. Jade bi
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:41, 12842, S
13:29, 12656, S
13:36, 12763, S
13:30, 12659, S
13:36, 12763, S
omnibus
56:33, 53026, S
11-Oct-2010 to
15-Oct-2010
Mass Production, Mass Persuasion (1780 - 1914 AD)
  1. Ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle
  2. Early Victorian tea set
  3. Hokusai's The Great Wave
  4. Sudanese slit drum
  5. Suffragette-defaced penny
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:22, 12547, S
13:41, 12842, S
13:25, 12586, S
13:24, 12568, S
13:45, 12900 , S
omnibus
56:40, 53139, S
18-Oct-2010 to
22-Oct-2010
The World of Our Making (1914 - 2010 AD)
  1. Russian revolutionary plate)
  2. Hockney's In the Dull Village
  3. Throne of Weapons
  4. Credit card
  5. Solar-powered lamp and charger
Neil MacGregor
produced by Anthony Denselow and Paul Kobrack
13:56, 13065, S
13:33, 12705, S
13:42, 12851, S
13:32, 12695, S
13:40, 12820, S
omnibus
56:44, 53194, S
18-May-2011 Special -- a private soldier's sweetheart, painted for
him in Auschwitz
Peter Lewis
produced by Tom Alban
27:58, 26227, S