5th century BC
14 episodes
Confucius
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosophy of Confucius, a body of ideas which, more than any other philosophy, has defined what it is to be Chinese.
1 November 2001
Featuring: Frances Wood, Tim Barrett, Tao Tao Liu
PhilosophyFounders of religions5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writersPhilosophers of lawClassical humanists5th-century BC historiansPhilosophers of cultureSocial philosophersAphorists5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersPhilosophers of education5th century BC6th century BCChinaHeraclitus
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the ancient Greek thinker Heraclitus, immortalised by later scholars as the Weeping Philosopher.
8 December 2011
Featuring: Angie Hobbs, Peter Adamson, James Warren
PhilosophyAncient Greek philosophers of mindAncient Greek physicists5th-century BC Greek philosophersPhilosophers of timeNatural philosophers6th-century BC Greek philosophersAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient Greek political philosophersAncient Greeks from the Achaemenid EmpirePhilosophers of religionOntologistsAncient Greek epistemologists, Ancient Greek ethicists5th century BC6th century BCGreeceMedicinePersiaHerodotus
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Greek writer whose Histories aimed to 'preserve the great and marvellous deeds of Greeks and barbarians, especially why they fought each other'.
23 September 2021
Featuring: Tom Harrison, Esther Eidinow, Paul Cartledge
Hysteria
Melvyn Bragg discusses a problematic notion which can be an emotional condition, a syndrome, an over-reaction, or the physical signs of trauma, which became the bedrock for psychoanalysis.
22 April 2004
Featuring: Juliet Mitchell, Rachel Bowlby, Brett Kahr
Oedipus Rex
Melvyn Bragg and guests on Sophocles' tragedy, sometimes called the best play ever written. With Edith Hall, Nick Lowe and Fiona Macintosh.
8 June 2023
Featuring: Nick Lowe, Fiona Macintosh, Edith Hall
Pericles
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and influence of the most powerful statesman in the new democracy of Athens, flourishing between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars.
17 September 2020
Featuring: Edith Hall, Paul Cartledge, Peter Liddel
Pythagoras
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas and influence of the Greek mathematician Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans.
10 December 2009
Featuring: Ian Stewart, Serafina Cuomo, John O'Connor
PhilosophyFounders of religionsAncient Greek philosophers of mindAncient Greek geometersAncient occultists5th-century BC Greek philosophers6th-century BC Greek philosophersAncient Greek political refugeesAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient Greek music theorists5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersAncient Samians5th century BC6th century BCGreeceMedicineSocrates
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the iconic Greek philosopher Socrates. He is the founder of Western philosophy, he was funny, irritating and rude but left not a single word in his own hand.
27 September 2007
Featuring: Angie Hobbs, David Sedley, Paul Millett
PhilosophyCritics of religionsClassical theismAncient Greek philosophers of mindPhilosophers of love5th-century BC Greek philosophersForced suicidesAncient Athenian philosophersSocratesAncient Greek political philosophers5th-century BC Athenians470s BC birthsExecuted philosophersIrony theoristsPhilosophers of educationAncient Greek epistemologists, Ancient Greek ethicists5th century BCGreeceSun Tzu and The Art of War
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Chinese military adviser Sun Tzu from the 6th century BC and the influential work of military strategy associated with him, The Art of War.
1 March 2018
Featuring: Hilde de Weerdt, Tim Barrett, Imre Galambos
History5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writersJourney to the West charactersPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of social sciencePeople whose existence is disputedMilitary theoristsPhilosophers of warAphoristsPolitical realistsTheoretical historiansPhilosophers of education5th century BC6th century BCChinaThe Brain
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of cultural, medical, artistic and philosophical ideas about the human brain.
8 May 2008
Featuring: Vivian Nutton, Jonathan Sawday, Marina Wallace
The Delian League
Misha Glenny and guests discuss how Athens led an ancient league of allies which gradually seemed to transform from a cooperative alliance to an imperial power.
18 June 2026
Featuring: Leah Lazar, Polly Low, Paul Cartledge
The Unicorn
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the history and mythology of the unicorn.
28 October 2010
Featuring: Juliette Wood, Lauren Kassell, David Ekserdjian
Thebes
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the myths of the ancient Greek city of Thebes, as told by Athenian dramatists, and the times when Thebes dominated Greek history.
23 November 2017
Featuring: Edith Hall, Samuel Gartland, Paul Cartledge
Thucydides
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ancient Greek historian Thucydides and his work entitled The History of the Peloponnesian War.
29 January 2015
Featuring: Paul Cartledge, Katherine Harloe, Neville Morley
