ABU DHABI // The History of the World in 100 Objects is a new exhibition that opens Wednesday portraying the extraordinary journey of humanity through the inventions and creations of mankind to live a productive life throughout the ages.
Objects dating back to two million years ago have made their way to the capital in this unique history exhibition at Manarat Al Saadiyat. They showcase the many inventions that led to the new technologies we now have.
Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, gave an hour long-lecture titled "Unlocking Objects" at the VIP opening of the exhibition yesterday.
“The purpose of this exhibition is to show to the public in Abu Dhabi something of the history of humanity from the point of being until today,” he said.
The exhibition showcases "universal objects" that provide the same answers to different people from different places around the world, he added.
Tombs, coins, swords, sculptures, dishes and shards of pottery have been gathered from around the world to portray the journey of humanity.
The items were brought in from the Middle East, China, Turkey, Iraq, Spain and many other countries.
Mr MacGregor said the objects displayed in the exhibition illustrate the needs of humans.
“The exhibition shows objects made that talk about connection,” he said.
Mr MacGregor showed and described to the audience tools that were used for capturing food, coins that were used for trade, and tombs that were needed for burial.
The oldest piece of the exhibition is a chopping tool dating back to almost 2 million years ago that was found in Tanzania.
Mr MacGregor also described many coins that were used for trade purposes, which also led to the power of some rulers.
Coins, he said, began in Lydia, modern-day Turkey, thousands of years ago.
In Britain, chunks of silver jewellery were used as a currency.
He referred to the most recent inventions in the UAE, a foot-controlled car that was devised by an Emirati student, Reem Al Marzouqi, at UAE University in Al Ain.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity to keep trying to do new things, to go new places.
“To continue that journey of inspiration with ingenuity, with complexity. That’s what the exhibition is about,” he said.
In the end, Mr MacGregor said, history is “what we all share”.
“We are all connected with each other.”
The exhibition was opened by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority in collaboration with the British Museum.
Among those attending the opening of the exhibition was Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of the authority, and Mohammed Al Murr, speaker of the Federal National Council.
The exhibition runs until August 1.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
