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  • A History of the World in 100 Objects

  • The Landmark BBC Radio 4 Series
  • By: Neil MacGregor
  • Narrated by: Neil MacGregor
  • Length: 22 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (98 ratings)
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A History of the World in 100 Objects cover art

A History of the World in 100 Objects

By: Neil MacGregor
Narrated by: Neil MacGregor
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Summary

In 2010, the BBC and the British Museum embarked on an ambitious project: to tell the story of 2,000,000 years of human history using 100 objects selected from the museum's vast and renowned collection.

Presented by the British Museum's then director Neil MacGregor, each episode focuses on a single object - from a Stone Age tool to a solar-powered lamp - and explains its significance in human history. A stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people; Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency; and an early Victorian tea set speaks to us about the impact of empire. Music, interviews with specialists and quotations from written texts enrich the listener's experience.

Objects from a similar period of history are grouped together to explore a common theme and make connections across the world. Seen in this way, history is a kaleidoscope: shifting, interlinked, constantly surprising and shaping our world in ways that most of us have never imagined. This download also includes an illustrated booklet with additional background information and photographs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about A History of the World in 100 Objects

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Fascinating

This book covers a panorama of interesting history facts that illustrate the evolution of human kind and what ultimately binds us together. Highly recommended.

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So informative, bite sized chapters

Loved this series - so we’ll researched and incredibly interesting! I’m planning now to go to the British Museum to see all the objects ‘in the flesh’!

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1 person found this helpful

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Fascinating

I was unsure about this one despite loving history. However you really do start to visualise the items from the descriptions. I have learnt some very interesting facts about bits of history I had no idea about. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
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brilliant and fascinating world history

superbly thought through and narrated story. essential listening for anyone seeking to understand world history through cultural heritage

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2 people found this helpful

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the perfect choice for relaxing education

I can't wait to see the British museum again and go find the items I have heard so much about

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3 people found this helpful

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excellent

loved it. informative and we'll paced in the reading.well balanced in its breadth of items, and the social and economic impact of them.

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Excellent

A history of objects within the British Museum and it’s so interesting. I learnt so much, in fact I limited my listening so the book would never end…although of course it did! I will relisten many times. Interesting narrators and not dry historians so worth my credit.

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Comprehensive and Fascinating

A tremendously interesting and insightful history of the world, written with real depth of research and insightful reflection on what the objects meant both to their contemporaneous societies, and to us today. It’s really remarkable that the collection at the British Museum is so broad, interesting, and high-quality that it can furnish an endeavour like this. This retains the podcast format, presented by MacGregor, with interviews and some sound effects which really add to it.

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Really interesting, however…

Loads of interesting g objects and histories, unfortunately the dreaded words ‘I think’, and ‘I believe’ are too prevalent. Whenever you hear those words you know you are about to get a personal opinion that has no evidence behind it, coloured by individual bias and political leaning. Stick to the facts, history is better when it is not selective in its interpretation of fact.

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A GREAT LISTEN, BUT . . .

A superb listen spoilt by the constant interruption of high-pitched music at regular intervals throughout the narrative - why? Neil MacGregor is brilliant!

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6 people found this helpful