The British Museum
BBC Radio 4
Week 14
Objects that show how the faithful were brought closer to their gods
Image: Hoa Hakananai'a Easter Island statue, AD 1000
Week 1
Five objects that help reveal what makes us human.
Image: Olduvai stone chopping tool, 2 million years old, Tanzania
Week 2
Objects that tell the story of the start of farming.
Image: Egyptian clay model of cattle, Egypt, about 3,500 BC
Week 3
Cities and states emerge in the river valleys of Africa and Asia
Image: King Den's sandal label, Egypt, about 2985 BC
Week 4
Growing societies develop myth, maths and monuments.
Image: Minoan Bull Leaper, Crete, 1700-1450 BC
Week 5
Across the world new regimes assert their supremacy.
Image: Sphinx of Taharqo, Sudan, about 680 BC
Week 6
Meanings hidden in objects tell as much as writings of great men.
Image: Basse Yutz flagons, France, about 450 BC
Week 7
From Alexander the Great to Caesar Augustus: an age of great empires.
Image: Head of Augustus, Meroë, Sudan, about about 27-25 BC
Week 8
Pipe-smoking to sex: pleasure around the world 2,000 years ago
Image: North American otter pipe, Ohio, USA, 200 BC-AD 100
Week 9
How and when many great religious images came into existence
Image: Arabian bronze hand, Yemen, 2nd-3rd century AD
Week 10
Five objects tell the story of the movement of goods and ideas
Image: Korean rooftile, Korea, 8th century AD
Week 11
Five objects shedding light on the lives of ruling elites
Image: Lothair Crystal, probably made in Germany, AD 855-869
Week 12
Hear how trade, war and religion moved objects around the world
Image: Kilwa pot sherds, Tanzania, 10th-14th century AD
Week 13
Explore a period of learning and science through magnificent objects
Image: Hebrew astrolabe, Spain, AD 1345 - 1355
Listen to the programmes
Find out more about the 100 objects featured in the Radio 4 series, listen to and download the programmes, see what other museums in the UK have contributed, and help make history by adding your own object on the BBC and British Museum A History of the World website.
Make history – add your object now
Get the podcast – catch up and keep
Read the History of the World blog
Explore A History of the World on the BBC website
Shiva and Parvati
Wednesday 28 July, 13.15
A gallery talk at the British Museum
Icon of the Triumph of orthodoxy
Saturday 31 July, 13.15
Full events calendar
Find objects from the series at the Museum
A History of the World on display
Museum floorplan
Find objects in Relic on display
13 objects to see with children
Visiting information
Catch up and keep A History of the World
Listen online now
More about this object
CBBC series in which children race against time to uncover the secrets of a British Museum object
Play the Relic game
Radio 4: Sunday
Hear about objects added to the website of spiritual significance.
The BBC and the British Museum are working together with museums and audiences across the UK.
Find objects added in your area
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On Twitter
Follow @britishmuseum on twitter Post your own comments with #AHOW
A History of the World blog
Read the latest post
Information for teachers about objects in the series
A History of the world factsheet for teachers (pdf)
Find out how schools can get involved in the project
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG / Open everyday 10.00 – 17.30, late Thursday and Friday
