The historian celebrates the formative role art and creativity have played in the forging of humanity itself across empires, cultures and time. In an age of profound hostility and manipulation, he proposes that artistic imagination is our best hope for empathy and understanding, as it has always been. Chaired by Stig Abell, edtor of the TLS.

The landmark BBC series 'Civilisations' is available on iPlayer. The Lecture is given in the names of Norman Florence and Rhoda Lewis, who wrangled the Hay Festival into being.