Shakespeare's Restless World

For the first time, England was engaging with the whole world.

First in an object-based history series presented by Neil MacGregor, former Director of the British Museum.

Assessing the impact of Sir Francis Drake's Circumnavigation Medal.

Drake's Circumnavigation Medal. Neil MacGregor uses objects of the time to explore Shakespeare's turbulent world. From 2012.

Neil MacGregor uses the Stratford Chalice to explore the world in Shakespeare's time.

A communion cup possibly used by the Bard sheds light on dramatic religious changes in the Reformation's aftermath. From 2012.

A fork found on the site of the Rose Theatre reveals what people ate in the Bard's time.

A fork discovered on the site of the Rose Theatre shows what people ate in the William Shakespeare's turbulent time. From 2012.

Yet by the 1590s, with no direct Tudor heir, this image had very different implications in Shakespeare's Restless World.

The story behind a portrait justifying Elizabeth I's position in the Tudor succession.

Neil MacGregor uses a 1571 painting of Elizabeth I to explore what life was like in Shakespeare's turbulent world. From 2012.

Neil MacGregor explores the essential accoutrements of any self-respecting gentleman.

What the rapier and the dagger, worn by all gentlemen, tell us about the levels of violence in Elizabethan London. From 2012.

What Henry V's armoury tells us about the depiction of history on the Elizabeth stage.

Neil MacGregor shows what Henry V's armoury tells us about the depiction of history on the Elizabeth stage. From 2012.

A rare woodcut offers an insight into the troubles and tragedies of Elizabethan Ireland.

Neil MacGregor explains how a rare woodcut reveals the troubles and tragedies of Elizabethan Ireland. From 2012.

Neil MacGregor explores life in Shakespeare's London through an apprentice's woollen cap.

Neil MacGregor explores the life of London's apprentices and Shakespeare's groundlings through a rare woollen cap. From 2012.

A disc of black obsidian from Mexico reflects the Elizabethan fascination with astrology.

Neil MacGregor reveals how a black obsidian disc from Mexico reflects the Elizabethan fascination with astrology. From 2012.

A model ship hung in a church reveals the differences between Scottish and English witches

Neil MacGregor explains how a model ship hung in a church, reveals differences between Scottish and English witches. From 2012.

Tabloid history of Shakespeare's England via contemporary accounts of royal murder plots.

Neil MacGregor's Shakespearean tabloid history of contemporary accounts of plots to murder Elizabeth I and James I. From 2012.

Neil MacGregor on how a delicate glass goblet reveals the twin seductions of Venice.

Neil MacGregor on how a goblet reveals Venice's twin seductions - its luxuries and sought-after lecherous women. From 2012.

Sunken gold from West Africa sheds light on England's complex relationship with the Moors.

Neil MacGregor on African gold's complex connection between Elizabethan England and the Moors of the Mediterranean. From 2012.

A pedlar's trunk reveals deception and religion, cross-dressing and travelling salesmen.

Neil MacGregor reveals deception and religion, cross-dressing and travelling salesmen, all unpacked via a pedlar's trunk. From 2012.

The problems in creating a Great Britain are encapsulated in designs for a common flag.

Neil MacGregor on the problems in uniting Scotland and England encapsulated in a set of designs for a common flag. From 2012.

A striking clock reveals the changing relationship Shakespeare's audiences had to time.

Neil MacGregor reveals how a musical striking clock changed the relationship Shakespeare's audiences had to time. From May 2012.

Early 17th-century proclamations reveal the impact of the 1603 plague outbreak.

Neil MacGregor reveals the impact of the plague of 1603 through a series of early 17th-century proclamations. From May 2012.

Neil MacGregor surveys the triumphal arches created for James I's entry into London.

Neil MacGregor surveys the triumphal arches created for James I's entry into London in 1604. From May 2012

A human eyeball in a silver setting gives a striking insight into the theatre of cruelty.

A human eyeball in a silver setting gives a striking insight into the theatre of cruelty in Shakespearean time. From May 2012.

An annotated copy of the Collected Works of Shakespeare reveals the extent to which Shakespeare has inspired and influenced audiences across the globe and through the ages.

How a folio of collected plays in 1623 began the creation of a global phenomenon.

From first folio to the 'Robben Island Bible', Neil MacGregor shows how Shakespeare became a global phenomenon. From May 2012.

Beginning with Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the globe and how it changed the way Shakespeare's audiences viewed the world and their country's place on it.

For the first time, England was engaging with the whole world.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2012.

Neil MacGregor uses objects of the time to explore the turbulent world of Shakespeare.

Neil MacGregor shows what Henry V's armoury tells us about the depiction of history on the Elizabeth stage and the differences between Scottish and English witches are revealed by a model ship, made to be hung in a church.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2012.

Neil MacGregor uses objects of the time to explore the turbulent world of Shakespeare.

Omnibus of eps 11-15 of 20 episodes.

Neil MacGregor shows what a delicate glass goblet reveals about the twin seductions of Venice: its sought after luxuries and its equally sought after women and the problems in uniting Scotland and England, creating a Great Britain and a set of designs for a common flag.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2012.

Tabloid history of Shakespeare's England via contemporary accounts of royal murder plots.

Omnibus of eps 16-20 of 20 episodes.

1603 saw not only a new king but the worst plague outbreak since the Black Death. Neil MacGregor shows how its impact and reach is told through a series of early seventeenth century proclamations and how the publication of the First Folio of Shakespeare's collected plays in 1623 began the process of turning an early modern playwright into a global phenomenon.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2012.

Neil MacGregor uses objects of the time to explore the turbulent world of Shakespeare.