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The Search for a State

Neil MacGregor considers the attempts of some faiths to establish a state of their own.

Neil MacGregor continues his series on shared beliefs with a look at the attempts of some faiths to establish a state of their own.

An over-printed coin from 2nd century Jerusalem tells of the failed attempt of Shimon bar Kokhba to lay claim to a state for the Jews, free from Roman rule - while a white cotton flag, framed in pale blue, flew over Sudan after it had been taken by Mahdist forces and before the Islamic state collapsed in the mid 1890s.

Producer Paul Kobrak

Produced in partnership with the British Museum
Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Oct 2022 00:15
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Turning the Screw

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Living with Each Other

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Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Nov 2017 09:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Thu 30 Nov 2017 19:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 14 Oct 2022 14:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 16 Oct 2022 00:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Animations

Neil MacGregor tells the stories of some of the key objects in the series.

Podcast

  • Living with the Gods

    Neil MacGregor explores the role and expression of shared beliefs around the world.