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Age of Conquest

Episode 1 of 7

David Dimbleby charts the last 2,000 years of Britain through its art and treasure. The first part begins with the Roman invasion and ends with the Norman Conquest.

David Dimbleby tells the story of Britain through its art and treasure. The first part of the chronicle begins with the Roman invasion and ends with the Norman Conquest.

David travels throughout Britain in search of the greatest works of art from the time: the mosaics of Bignor Roman Villa, the burial treasure of Sutton Hoo, Anglo-Saxon poetry and Alfred the Great's jewel. He also goes abroad, throughout Europe, to find objects either made in Britain, or which tell us something about our past.

In Aphrodisias, Turkey, he finds the oldest image of Britannia; in Florence, a beautiful illuminated Bible made by Northumbrian monks in the 8th century; in Normandy, the Bayeux Tapestry, now believed to have been made by English nuns. He ends at the Tower of London, now seen as a symbol of Britishness, but originally built by William the Conqueror to subdue the people of England.

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 1 Jun 2020 23:30

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:11

    Vogel, Het Berentrio, En Hun Vriendjes

    Rommel De Bom

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter David Dimbleby
Director Jonty Claypole
Producer Jonty Claypole
Executive Producer Basil Comely

Broadcasts

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Enjoy David Dimbleby's history of the people of the British Isles