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6th century

7 episodes

1. Antarah ibn Shaddad

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the poetry of Antarah (525-608AD), his historical context before Islam, how his work relates to other poets in that period, and his legacy

   28 February 2019

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   Featuring: James Montgomery, Marlé Hammond, Harry Munt

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   CultureMedieval Arabic literature6th century

2. History of History

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how the writing of history has changed over time, from ancient epics to medieval hagiographies and modern deconstructions.

   22 January 2009

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   Featuring: Paul Cartledge, John Burrow, Miri Rubin

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   HistoryPhilosophy of historyHistoriography6th century

3. Justinian's Legal Code

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss legal ideas developed under Byzantine emperor Justinian I in the C6th AD, which influenced the evolution of law in much of Western civilisation.

   17 November 2016

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   Featuring: Caroline Humfress, Simon Corcoran, Paul du Plessis

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   HistoryProse texts in Latin6th-century books in LatinJustinian I6th centuryBookLaw

4. The Consolations of Philosophy

   Melvyn Bragg discusses Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy and asks whether philosophy should lead us toward consolation or lead us from it.

   1 January 2009

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   Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Melissa Lane, Roger Scruton

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   Philosophy6th-century books in LatinVisionary literatureDialoguesProse texts in LatinPrison writings6th centuryBook

5. The Lindisfarne Gospels

   Melvyn Bragg discusses the 8th century manuscripts that united the Celtic and Roman church and cultures in England, and are often seen as the first artworks of Christian Britain.

   20 February 2003

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   Featuring: Richard Gameson, Clare Lees, Michelle Brown

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   ReligionCotton Library6th century8th century

6. The Upanishads

   Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Upanishads, the sacred texts of Hinduism. Dating from about 700 BC, their mystical and philosophical nature still resonates today.

   8 November 2012

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   Featuring: Jessica Frazier, Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad, Simon Brodbeck

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   ReligionHinduism and societyAncient yoga texts, Hindu philosophyHindu philosophical conceptsWorks of unknown authorshipSanskrit textsHindu texts6th century7th centuryIndia

7. Zen

   Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Zen, a distinctively East Asian form of Buddhism.

   4 December 2014

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   Featuring: Tim Barrett, Lucia Dolce, Eric Greene

   

   wikipedia article ↗

    
   PhilosophyNonduality6th century