Ideas worth spreading

2600 years of history in one object

1,277,826 views | Neil MacGregor • TEDGlobal 2011

A clay cylinder covered in Akkadian cuneiform script, damaged and broken, the Cyrus Cylinder is a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and multi-culturalism. In this enthralling talk Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, traces 2600 years of Middle Eastern history through this single object.

A clay cylinder covered in Akkadian cuneiform script, damaged and broken, the Cyrus Cylinder is a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and multi-culturalism. In this enthralling talk Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, traces 2600 years of Middle Eastern history through this single object.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Neil MacGregor

Director of The British Museum

See speaker profile

The writer and presenter of the BBC Radio 4 series "A History of the World in 100 Objects" and the accompanying book.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.