It is said that, in Britain from the 18th Century, copies of Josephus' works were as widespread and as well read as The Bible. Christians valued "The Antiquities of the Jews" in particular, for the retelling of parts of the Old Testament and apparently corroborating the historical existence of Jesus. Born Joseph son of Matthias, in Jerusalem, in 37AD, he fought the Romans in Galilee in the First Jewish-Roman War. He was captured by Vespasian's troops and became a Roman citizen, later describing the siege and fall of Jerusalem. His actions and writings made him a controversial figure, from his lifetime to the present day.WithTessa Rajak
Professor Emeritus of Ancient History, University of ReadingPhilip Alexander
Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies, University of ManchesterAndMartin Goodman
Professor of Jewish Studies, University of Oxford and President of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish StudiesProducer: Simon Tillotson.
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45:36
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45:36
Matteo Ricci and the Ming Dynasty
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life of Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit priest who in the 16th century led a Christian mission to China. An accomplished scholar, Ricci travelled extensively and came into contact with senior officials of the Ming Dynasty administration. His story is one of the most important encounters between Renaissance Europe and a China which was still virtually closed to outsiders.With Mary Laven
Reader in Early Modern History at the University of CambridgeCraig Clunas
Professor of the History of Art at the University of OxfordandAnne Gerritsen
Reader in History at the University of Warwick Producer: Simon Tillotson.
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45:24
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45:24
Hildegard of Bingen
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss one of the most remarkable figures of the Middle Ages, Hildegard of Bingen. The abbess of a Benedictine convent, Hildegard experienced a series of mystical visions which she documented in her writings. She was an influential person in the religious world and much of her extensive correspondence with popes, monarchs and other important figures survives. Hildegard was also celebrated for her wide-ranging scholarship, which as well as theology covered the natural world, science and medicine. Officially recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2012, Hildegard is also one of the earliest known composers. Since their rediscovery in recent decades her compositions have been widely recorded and performed.With:Miri Rubin
Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History and Head of the School of History at Queen Mary, University of LondonWilliam Flynn
Lecturer in Medieval Latin at the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of LeedsAlmut Suerbaum
Professor of Medieval German and Fellow of Somerville College, Oxford.Producer: Thomas Morris.
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44:33
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44:33
The Talmud
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the history and contents of the Talmud, one of the most important texts of Judaism. The Talmud was probably written down over a period of several hundred years, beginning in the 2nd century. It contains the authoritative text of the traditional Jewish oral law, and also an account of early Rabbinic discussion of, and commentary on, these laws. In later centuries scholars wrote important commentaries on these texts, which remain central to most strands of modern Judaism.With:Philip Alexander
Emeritus Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of ManchesterRabbi Norman Solomon
Former Lecturer at the Oxford Centre for Jewish and Hebrew StudiesLaliv Clenman
Lecturer in Rabbinic Literature at Leo Baeck College and a Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King's College LondonProducer: Thomas Morris.
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47:48
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47:48
The Trinity
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Trinity. The idea that God is a single entity, but one known in three distinct forms - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - has been a central belief for most Christians since the earliest years of the religion. The doctrine was often controversial in the early years of the Church, until clarified by the Council of Nicaea in the late 4th century. Later thinkers including St Augustine and Thomas Aquinas recognised that this religious mystery posed profound theological questions, such as whether the three persons of the Trinity always acted together, and whether they were of equal status. The Trinity's influence on Christian thought and practice is considerable, although it is interpreted in different ways by different Christian traditions. With:Janet Soskice
Professor of Philosophical Theology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Jesus CollegeMartin Palmer
Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education, and CultureThe Reverend Graham Ward
Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford and a Canon of Christ Church.Producer: Thomas Morris.
Ireland