麻豆社

The series is written and narrated by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, and focuses on 100 objects from the British Museum鈥檚 collection.

The programmes will travel through two million years from the earliest object in the collection to retell the history of humanity through the objects we have made.

This week Neil MacGregor looks at objects from the earliest examples of literature and science.

The development of cities and states in different parts of the world had many important consequences.

Two of these were the world鈥檚 earliest written literature and the development of scientific and mathematical knowledge.

These states often fought each other, and rulers sought to demonstrate their success and power over their subjects through the creation of impressive monuments.

Early societies did not exist in isolation, but were connected through extensive trade networks by road and also by sea.

Although the majority of the world鈥檚 population lived in small villages, these people were also capable of creating sophisticated objects, monuments and cultures.