With behind-the-scenes access to a major new exhibition at the British Museum, Matt Lewis sets out to uncover the story behind one of Japan’s most enduring and misunderstood legacies: the Samurai. Often romanticised as noble warriors bound by an unbreakable code of honour, the reality of the Samurai is far more complex.
Guided by curator Dr Rosina Buckland, Lewis examines a newly acquired suit of armour assembled over more than three centuries, revealing what its intricate craftsmanship and evolving design can tell us about the world of the Samurai. While the armour embodies the familiar image of the fearsome warrior, a closer look uncovers the many layers of identity to these figures...and why they continue to capture imaginations around the world.
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A Voice for Richard
Imagine if we could hear one of the most fascinating figures from history speak again.
In this special film, Richard III expert Matthew Lewis follows a remarkable project to give Richard III back his voice and to hear and see him speak again. Forget the words put into his mouth by Shakespeare a...
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Fragments of History: Rome's Greatest...
In 2017, the oldest and most complete set of Roman armour was unearthed in Kalkriese, Germany. Roughly 2,000 years old, it is one of the greatest examples of Roman military equipment ever discovered, we know it as the lorica segmentata. Consisting of 40 sheets of iron fastened together with leath...
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Dunhuang: A Silk Road Oasis
The Silk Road was a historic trading network that linked East to West. But this trade network exchanged far more than objects, through this route came a trade of knowledge, culture and religion. One of its most important stopping points was the Chinese city of Dunhuang. This centre held an import...
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