Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss On War, a treatise on the theory and practice of warfare written by the Prussian soldier and intellectual Carl von Clausewitz. First published in 1832, Clausewitz's magnum opus is commonly regarded as the most important book about military theory ever written. Its influence is felt today not just on the battlefield but also in politics and business. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Saul David, Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham; Hew Strachan,
Chichele Professor of the History of War at the University of Oxford and Beatrice Heuser, Professor of International Relations at the University of Reading.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss game theory, the mathematical study of decision-making. Some of the games studied in game theory have become well known outside academia - they include the Prisoner's Dilemma, an intriguing scenario popularised in novels and films. Today game theory is seen as an important tool in evolutionary biology, economics, computing and philosophy. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Ian Stewart, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick; Andrew Colman, Professor of Psychology at the University of Leicester and Richard Bradley, Professor of Philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Voltaire's novel Candide. First published in 1759, the novel follows the adventures of a young man, Candide, and his mentor, the philosopher Pangloss. Often uproariously funny, the novel is a biting satire whose targets include bad literature, extremist religion and the vanity of kings and politicians. It captivated contemporary readers and has proved one of French literature's most enduring classics. Melvyn Bragg is joined by David Wootton, Professor of History at the University of York; Nicholas Cronk, Professor of French Literature and Director of the Voltaire Foundation at the University of Oxford and Caroline Warman, Lecturer in French and Fellow of Jesus College at the University of Oxford.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Battle of Bosworth Field, the celebrated encounter between Lancastrian and Yorkist forces in August 1485, which resulted in the death of Richard III. Henry Tudor's victory established the Tudor dynasty which was to rule for over a century. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Anne Curry,
Professor of Medieval History and Dean of Humanities at the University of Southampton; Steven Gunn, Tutor and Fellow in Modern History at Merton College, Oxford and David Grummitt, Lecturer in British History at the University of Kent.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Neoplatonism, the school of thought founded in the 3rd century AD by the philosopher Plotinus. The Neoplatonists brought a new religious sensibility to bear on Plato's thought, outlining a complex cosmology which linked the human with the divine, headed by a mysterious power called the One. Neoplatonism shaped early Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious scholarship, and remained a dominant force in European thought until the Renaissance. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Angie Hobbs, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Senior Fellow in the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Warwick; Peter Adamson, Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at King's College London and Anne Sheppard, Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the emergence of geology - the study of the Earth, its history and composition. Although geology only emerged as a separate area of study in the late 18th century, many earlier thinkers had studied rocks, fossils and the materials from which the Earth is made. But how did such haphazard study of rocks and fossils develop into a rigorous scientific discipline? Melvyn Bragg is joined by Stephen Pumfrey,
Senior Lecturer in the History of Science at Lancaster University; Andrew Scott, Professor of Applied Palaeobotany at Royal Holloway, University of London and Leucha Veneer,
Research Associate at the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at the University of Manchester.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the origins of Quakerism. In the mid-17th century an itinerant preacher, George Fox, became the central figure of the Religious Society of Friends. Persecuted for many years, particularly after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, the Quakers survived to become an influential religious group, known for their pacifism and philanthropy. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Justin Champion,
Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London; John Coffey,
Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Leicester and Kate Peters, Fellow in History at Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the measurement of time. Early civilisations used the movements of heavenly bodies to tell the time, then mechanical clocks emerged in Europe in the medieval period. For hundreds of years clocks were inaccurate but now atomic clocks are capable of keeping time to a second in 15 million years. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Kristen Lippincott, Former Director of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich; Jim Bennett, Director of the Museum of the History of Science at the University of Oxford and Jonathan Betts, Senior Curator of Horology at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the work and influence of the 18th-century philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Moses's learning earned him the sobriquet of the 'German Socrates' and he is considered to be one of the principal architects of the Haskala, the Jewish Enlightenment. Today, he is perhaps best remembered for his efforts to bring Jewish and German culture closer together and for his plea for religious toleration. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Christopher Clark, Professor of Modern European History at the University of Cambridge; Abigail Green, Tutor and Fellow in History at the University of Oxford and Adam Sutcliffe, Senior Lecturer in European History at King's College, London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Vitruvius' De Architectura. Written 2000 years ago, Vitruvius' treatise is a ten-volume work on Roman engineering and architecture, the only surviving text on the subject from the ancient world. The rediscovery of this work in the 15th century provided the impetus for the neoclassical architectural movement, and Vitruvius exerted a significant influence on the work of Renaissance architects including Palladio, Brunelleschi and Alberti. It remains a hugely important text today. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Serafina Cuomo, Reader in Roman History at Birkbeck, University of London; Robert Tavernor, Emeritus Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the London School of Economics and Alice Koenig, Lecturer in Latin and Classical Studies at the University of St Andrews.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Lyrical Ballads, the collection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge first published in 1798, which attempted to cast off the stultifying conventions of formal 18th-century poetry. Lyrical Ballads contains some of the best-known work by Coleridge and Wordsworth, including The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Tintern Abbey - and is today seen as a point of radical departure for poetry in English. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Judith Hawley, Professor of Eighteenth-Century Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London; Jonathan Bate,
Provost of Worcester College, Oxford and
Peter Swaab, Reader in English Literature at University College London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Benjamin Franklin. A printer, statesman, diplomat, writer and scientist, Franklin was one of the most remarkable individuals of the 18th century. As the only Founding Father to have signed all three of the fundamental documents of the United States of America, including its Declaration of Independence and Constitution, Benjamin Franklin occupies a unique position in the history of the nation. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Simon Middleton, Senior Lecturer in American History at the University of Sheffield; Simon Newman,
Sir Denis Brogan Professor of American History at the University of Glasgow and Patricia Fara, Senior Tutor at Clare College, University of Cambridge.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the physics of electrical conduction. In investigating electrical conduction scientists discovered two new classes of material. Semiconductors have given us the transistor, the solar cell and the silicon chip, and have revolutionised telecommunications. And superconductors, remarkable materials first observed in 1911, are used in medical imaging and at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Frank Close, Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford; Jenny Nelson, Professor of Physics at Imperial College London and Lesley Cohen
Professor of Solid State Physics at Imperial College London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the An Lushan Rebellion, a major uprising against the Chinese Tang Dynasty in 755 AD. Although the dynasty's authority was restored, it never regained the prosperity of previous generations. The An Lushan Rebellion displaced millions of people and changed the relationship between the Chinese state and neighbouring powers, but it also left a rich cultural legacy in the poetry memorialising this seismic event. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Frances Wood, Lead Curator of Chinese at the British Library; Naomi Standen, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Birmingham and Hilde de Weerdt, Fellow and Lecturer in Chinese History at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the 16th century humanist scholar Desiderius Erasmus, almost universally recognised as the greatest classical scholar of his age. An important religious writer, he was also an outspoken critic of the Church, but when the Reformation began Erasmus chose to remain a member of the Catholic Church rather than side with Martin Luther and the reformers. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Diarmaid MacCulloch,
Professor of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford; Eamon Duffy, Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge and Jill Kraye, Professor of the History of Renaissance Philosophy and Librarian at the Warburg Institute, University of London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Kama Sutra, one of the most celebrated and misunderstood texts of Indian literature. Although it is best known today for its chapter devoted to sexual pleasure, this Sanskrit work is a wide ranging manual to a life of fulfilment, which has had a profound influence on Indian culture and thought. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Julius Lipner, Professor of Hinduism and the Comparative Study of Religion at the University of Cambridge; Jessica Frazier, Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Kent and Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and David Smith, Reader in South Asian Religions at the University of Lancaster.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the evolution of the Scientific Method, the systematic and analytical approach to scientific thought. It became a topic of intense debate in the 17th century, and thinkers including Isaac Newton, Thomas Huxley and Karl Popper all made important contributions. Some of the greatest discoveries of the modern age were informed by their work, although even today the term 'scientific method' remains difficult to define. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Simon Schaffer, Professor of the History of Science at the University of Cambridge; John Worrall, Professor of the Philosophy of Science at the LSE and Michela Massimi,
Senior Lecturer in the Philosophy of Science at University College London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss 1848, the year that saw Europe engulfed in revolution. Across the continent, from Paris to Palermo, liberals rose against conservative governments. The first stirrings of rebellion came in January, in Sicily; in February the French monarchy fell; and within a few months Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy had all been overtaken by revolutionary fervour. Only a few countries were spared. With Tim Blanning, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Cambridge; Lucy Riall, Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London; and Mike Rapport, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Stirling.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Safavid Dynasty, rulers of the Persian empire between the 16th and 18th centuries. At the peak of their success the Safavids ruled over a vast territory which included all of modern-day Iran. They converted their subjects to Shi'a Islam, creating the religious identity of today's Iran, and their capital Isfahan became one of the most magnificent cities in the world. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Robert Gleave, Professor of Arabic Studies at the University of Exeter; Emma Loosley,
Senior Lecturer at the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures at the University of Manchester and Andrew Newman, Reader in Islamic Studies and Persian at the University of Edinburgh.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the giant molecules that form the basis of all life. Macromolecules, also known as polymers, are long chains of atoms which form the proteins that make up our bodies, as well as many of the materials of modern life. We've only known about macromolecules for just over a century, so what is the story behind them and how might they change our lives in the future? Melvyn Bragg is joined by Athene Donald, Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Cambridge; Charlotte Williams, Reader in Polymer Chemistry and Catalysis at Imperial College London and Tony Ryan, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Science at the University of Sheffield.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe. Published in 1719, it was an immediate success and is considered the classic adventure story - the sailor stranded on a desert island who learns to tame the environment and the native population. Robinson Crusoe has been interpreted in myriad ways, from colonial fable to religious instruction manual to capitalist tract, yet it is perhaps best known today as a children's story. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Karen O'Brien, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education at the University of Birmingham; Judith Hawley, Professor of Eighteenth-Century Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London and Bob Owens, Emeritus Professor of English Literature at the Open University.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Concordat of Worms. This treaty between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire, signed in 1122, put an end, at least for a time, to years of power struggle and bloodshed. It created a historic distinction between secular power and spiritual authority, defining more clearly the respective powers of monarchs and the Church. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Henrietta Leyser, Emeritus Fellow of St Peter's College, University of Oxford; Kate Cushing, Reader in Medieval History at Keele University and John Gillingham, Emeritus Professor of History at the London School of Economics and Political Science

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Writing in the 5th century BC, Heraclitus believed that everything is constantly changing. He expressed this thought in a famous epigram: "No man ever steps into the same river twice." At times a rationalist, at others a mystic, Heraclitus is an intriguing figure who influenced major later philosophers and movements such as Plato and the Stoics. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Angie Hobbs, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Senior Fellow in the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Warwick; Peter Adamson, Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at King's College London and James Warren, Senior Lecturer in Classics and a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the Victorian poet Christina Rossetti. Rossetti was born into an artistic family and her siblings included Dante Gabriel, one of the leading lights of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Her poetry has a spirituality and sensitivity that has led to her redisovery in recent decades, not least by feminist critics who praise her powerful and independent poetic voice. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Dinah Birch, Professor of English Literature at Liverpool University; Rhian Williams, Lecturer in Nineteenth-Century English Literature at the University of Glasgow and Nicholas Shrimpton, Emeritus Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the revolutionary Jewish leader Judas Maccabeus. Born in the 2nd century BC, Judas led his followers in a rebellion against the Seleucid Empire, which was attempting to impose Greek culture and religion on the Jews. He succeeded in winning religious freedom, but it was not until 20 years after Judas's death that Judaea finally became an independent state. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Helen Bond, Senior Lecturer in the New Testament at Edinburgh University; Tessa Rajak, Emeritus Professor of Ancient History at the University of Reading and Philip Alexander, Emeritus Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the ancient Greek astronomer and mathematician Ptolemy, and consider how and why his geocentric theory of the universe held sway for more than a thousand years. It was not until 1543, and Copernicus's heliocentric theory of the world, that the Ptolemaic model was finally challenged. But how and why did Ptolemy's system survive for so long? Melvyn Bragg is joined by Liba Taub of Cambridge University, Jim Bennett of the Museum of the History of Science at the University of Oxford, and Charles Burnett of the University of London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Continental-Analytic split in Western philosophy. The Analytic school favours a logical, scientific approach, in contrast to the Continental emphasis on the importance of time and place. But what are the origins of this split and is it possible that contemporary philosophers can bridge the gap between the two? Melvyn Bragg is joined by Stephen Mulhall of New College, University of Oxford, Beatrice Han-Pile
of the University of Essex and Hans Johann-Glock of the University of Zurich.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the origins, science and mythology of the Moon. Humans have been fascinated by our only known satellite since prehistory but it was Galileo Galilei who first studied the Moon in detail with a telescope in 1609. Mankind first walked on the Moon in 1969 and since then advances in space science have given us some startling insights into the history of the Moon and our own planet. However, many intriguing questions remain unanswered. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Paul Murdin of Liverpool John Moores University, Carolin Crawford of the University of Cambridge and Ian Crawford of Birkbeck, University of London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Siege of Tenochtitlan. In 1521 the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes led an army of Spanish and native forces against Tenochtitlan, the spectacular island capital of the Aztec civilisation. After a prolonged siege and fierce battle, the city finally fell. This major confrontation between Old and New Worlds precipitated the downfall of the Aztec Empire and marked a new phase in European colonisation of the Americas. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Alan Knight of the University of Oxford, Elizabeth Graham of University College London and Caroline Dodds Pennock of the University of Sheffield.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Delacroix's painting July 28: Liberty Leading the People. In 1830 revolution once more overtook France, when a popular uprising toppled the French Bourbon monarch, Charles X. Delacroix's allegorical work, personifying Liberty as a female figure, has become an iconic symbol of human freedom, and one of the most influential works of art of the nineteenth century. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Tim Blanning of the University of Cambridge, Tamar Garb of University College London and Simon Lee of the University of Reading.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Ming Voyages. In 1405 a Chinese admiral, Zheng He, set sail with an enormous fleet of ships carrying more than 27,000 people. This was the first of seven voyages which took Zheng and his ships all over the known world, from India to the Gulf of Persia and as far as East Africa. They took Chinese goods, evidence of the might of the Ming Empire, to the people they visited; and they also returned to China with treasure from the places they visited, and exotic items including a live giraffe.

These extraordinary journeys live on in the imagination and the historical record - and had a profound effect on China's relationship with the rest of the world.

With: Rana Mitter, Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China at the University of Oxford; Julia Lovell,
Lecturer in Chinese History at Birkbeck College, University of London; Craig Clunas, Professor of the History of Art at the University of Oxford.
Producer: Thomas Morris.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the work of the philosopher David Hume. A key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment of the eighteenth century, Hume was an empiricist who believed that humans can only have knowledge of things they have themselves experienced. He gave a sceptical account of religion, which caused many to suspect him of atheism. He was also the author of a bestselling History of England. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Peter Millican of the University of Oxford, Helen Beebee of the University of Birmingham and James Harris of the University of St Andrews.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Etruscan civilisation which flourished in Italy for much of the first millennium BC. Developing a sophisticated culture, they were skilled soldiers, architects and artists. Eventually the Etruscan civilisation was absorbed into that of Rome, but not before it had profoundly influenced Roman art, religion and politics. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Phil Perkins of the Open University, David Ridgway of the University of London and Corinna Riva of University College London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Japanese belief system of Shinto, a religion without gods, scriptures or a founder. Shinto shrines are some of the most prominent features of the Japanese landscape, where over 100 million people - most of the population - count themselves as adherents. Although it has changed considerably in the face of political upheaval and international conflict, it remains one of the most significant influences on Japanese culture. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Martin Palmer, Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture; Richard Bowring,
Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Cambridge; and Lucia Dolce
Senior Lecturer in Japanese Religion and Japanese at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Hippocratic Oath.
The Greek physician Hippocrates, active in the fifth century BC, has been described as the father of medicine, although little is known about his life and some scholars even argue that he was not one person but several. A large body of work originally attributed to him was disseminated widely in the ancient world, and contains treatises on a wide variety of subjects, from fractures to medical ethics.

The best known is the Hippocratic Oath, an ethical code for doctors. Although it has often been revised and adapted, the Hippocratic Oath remains one of the most significant and best known documents of medical science.

With:
Vivian Nutton, Emeritus Professor of the History of Medicine at University College London

Helen King, Professor of Classical Studies at the Open University

Peter Pormann, Wellcome Trust Associate Professor in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick