The Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, retells the history of human development from the first stone axe to the credit card using 100 selected objects from the Museum. His history will cover two million years and include items that were made in every part of the globe. But his journey begins when, at the age of eight, he visited the British Museum for the first time and came face-to-face with an object that fascinated and intrigued him ever since - an Egyptian mummy.Hornedjitef was a priest who died around 2250 years ago, and he designed a coffin that, he believed, would help him navigate his way to the afterlife. Little did he know that this afterlife would be as a museum exhibit in London. This ornate coffin holds secrets to the understanding of his religion, society and Egypt's connections to the rest of the world.Neil MacGregor tells the story of Hornedjitef's mummy case, with contributions from egyptologist John Taylor, Egyptian author Ahdaf Soueif and Indian economist and Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen

The Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, retells the history of human development from the first stone axe to the credit card using 100 selected objects from the Museum. Today Neil has chosen an object found in France, dating back 13,000 years. It is a carving of two swimming reindeer and it's not just the likeness that is striking. The creator of this carving was one of the first humans to express their world through art. But why did they do it? Neil MacGregor tells the story of the Swimming Reindeer, and its place in the history of art and religion with contributions from the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and archaelogist Professor Steven Mithen.Producer: Anthony Denselow

Explore the global economy in 19th century with Hokusai's iconic print, The Great Wave. Learn about Japan's selective engagement with the world and the impact of Commodore Perry's intervention. Discover the artistic significance of Hokusai's artwork and its influence on cultural exchange.

Neil MacGregor, British Museum Director, discusses the power of Shakespeare's writing to transport audiences. He focuses on the opening words of Henry V and shares his personal experience of performing Shakespeare at school.

World history expert Neil MacGregor discusses the 18th-century European Enlightenment project and China's own Enlightenment under the Qianlong Emperor. He delves into the significance of a jade disc (called a Bi) from 1500 BC, inscribed by the Emperor, shedding light on life in 18th century China and their exploration of the past.