Ancient Greece and Rome loom large in the understanding of the roots of Western Civilisation, but the Professor of Ancient History Josephine Quinn wants to challenge that simple narrative. In How The World Made The West – A 4,000 Year History she shows how western values were developed by long-standing links between a much larger group of cultures, from the Gobi Desert to the Atlantic Ocean and beyond.
The British Museum’s major new exhibition Legion looks at life in the Roman army (on until 23rd June). This elite war machine was employed to protect and control around a quarter of the Earth’s population for over half a millennium. Recruits came from all walks of life, and from across the Empire. The archaeologist Carolina Rangel de Lima reveals the impact this extraordinary diversity of cultures and beliefs had on the imperial Roman army.
The writer Christopher Harding takes a closer look at the many ways in which Asia has influenced Europe and North America. In his book, The Light of Asia, he explores how Japan, China and India have often been sources of genuine fascination and artistic and intellectual inspiration, as well as confusion and misunderstanding.
Producer: Katy Hickman
Who Am I? The Brain and Personality
Fascism and the Enlightenment with Steven Pinker
Rise and Fall of the City
Money Makes the World Go Around
Mohsin Hamid on leaving home
The Power of Art
Peter Carey on legacies of the past
Votes for Women
Who governs Britain?
The power and beauty of objects.
Russia, religion and the Middle East
Finland at 100
Blood, guts and swearing robots
Anger and deprivation
Heart of Darkness: Conrad and Orwell
Animals: tamed, exploited and resurrected
Living with the Gods
The End of War?
Russian Revolution a hundred years on
Power, the People and the Party
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
The Rest Is History
Global News Podcast
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
You’re Dead to Me