Civilisations

Simon Schama explores the role creativity has played in the development of humanity. He marvels at the extensive marks and paintings on caves made some 80,000 years ago in South Africa.

Professor Mary Beard examines ancient art's depictions of the human body from around the globe. She seeks answers to why these images exist and how these representations still affect humans today.

Simon Schama realises the meaningful intricacies of landscape painting as a form of escapism and a projection of dreams and idylls. He begins his art exploration in 10th-century China.

Professor Mary Beard embarks upon the topic of religion and art, and how these two topics have inspired one another for millennia. She visits sacred sites across the globe to explore their highly contested boundaries.

Simon Schama explores the connections and rivalries of Papal Rome, Ottoman Istanbul, Mughal Lahore and Agra while examining the development of artists from the east and west in the post-Renaissance years.

David Olusoga demonstrates how the meeting of distant cultures in the 15th and 16th centuries left a mark on each other's artistic endeavours.