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2nd century

8 episodes

1. Animal Experiments and Rights

   Melvyn Bragg discusses the place of animals in our society and examines whether their role in our search for knowledge is morally unacceptable in the light of new research into animal consciousness.

   18 March 1999

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   Featuring: Colin Blakemore, Lynda Birke

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   Science2nd centuryAnimals

2. Galen

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Roman physician and medical theorist Galen.

   10 October 2013

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   Featuring: Vivian Nutton, Helen King, Caroline Petit

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   ScienceAncient Greek philosophers of mind2nd-century Greek philosophersAeliiHerbalistsAncient Greek logiciansPhilosophy writersCourt physicians2nd centuryGreeceMedicine

3. Persepolis

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 'City of the Persians' that flourished for almost 200 years from the reign of Darius I until its destruction by Alexander III of Macedon.

   7 June 2018

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   Featuring: Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, Lindsay Allen

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   History2nd century

4. Pliny the Younger

   Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Roman lawyer and statesman Pliny the Younger, whose letters offer a fascinating insight into his life and the ancient world.

   12 December 2013

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   Featuring: Catharine Edwards, Roy Gibson, Alice König

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   HistoryAncient Roman adopteesAncient Roman scientists, People from Como, Plinii1st-century RomansCritics of ChristianityLetter writers in LatinSuffect consuls of Imperial RomeAugurs of the Roman EmpireSilver Age Latin writers2nd-century Romans1st century2nd centuryRome

5. Ptolemy and Ancient Astronomy

   Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the last of the great Greek astronomers of antiquity, Ptolemy, and his influence on ancient and medieval astronomy.

   17 November 2011

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   Featuring: Liba Taub, Jim Bennett, Charles Burnett

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   PhilosophyAncient Roman geographersAncient occultists2nd-century Greek philosophersClaudii1st-century RomansAncient Greek geographersAncient Greek music theoristsEpigrammatists of the Greek Anthology2nd-century Romans1st century2nd centuryGreeceRome

6. Shakespeare's Sonnets

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 154 sonnets collected and printed in 1609 of which some are famous, many are glorious, most are inspiring and several are unsettling.

   24 June 2021

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   Featuring: Hannah Crawforth, Don Paterson, Emma Smith

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   CultureSonnets17th century2nd centuryPoetry

7. The Talmud

   Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Talmud, the written version of Jewish oral law and one of the most important texts of Judaism.

   29 May 2014

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   Featuring: Philip Alexander, Norman Solomon, Laliv Clenman

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   ReligionCensored booksJudaism-related controversiesAncient Hebrew texts2nd century

8. The Zong Massacre

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the drowning of 132 enslaved Africans, purportedly as there was not enough drinking water to go round. The owners profited; nobody was prosecuted.

   26 November 2020

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   Featuring: Vincent Brown, Bronwen Everill, Jake Subryan Richards

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   HistoryMaritime paintingsAtlantic slave tradeBritish slave trade2nd centuryEconomicsPainting