Global Antiquity at Fondazione Prada in Milan, Italy, re-evaluates the relationship between the Mediterranean and Asian cultures from 700 BCE to 1000 CE. Curated by Salvatore Settis, the exhibition uses a vast array of artifacts to challenge the narrative of a self-contained classical civilization, showcasing how these distant regions were actually linked through continuous exchange.

The display features high-profile loans including a South Arabian bronze, the Shapur I cameo, and an Indian ivory figurine recovered from the ruins of Pompeii. Housed in a spatial environment designed by Rem Koolhaas and AMO/OMA, the exhibition organizes these sculptures and objects into a dense network that illustrates the movement of ideas, materials, and artistic styles across vast distances over seventeen centuries.

By placing Mediterranean antiquities alongside evidence of long-distance trade, the project highlights the material reality of a globalized ancient world. It is a rigorous research-led show that transforms the way we view Roman and Greek history, moving the focus away from isolation and toward a sophisticated, interconnected past.

An intellectually ambitious and visually exceptional study for visitors who want deep historical context and a fresh perspective on the ancient world.