The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything

The Ages of Man sketch is an homage to an older, similar skit that appeared on The Frost Report (1966) in April of 1966. As its name ("The Class Sketch") suggests, class differences are used to define three archetypes, much as historical differences do in the later sketch. Barker and Corbett play what amount to the same roles in each sketch, with John Cleese playing the upper-class character who mirrors the "Modern Man" character played by Stephen Fry in the latter sketch. Several other versions of the sketch appeared in The Two Ronnies (1971).

During the Westphalia negotiations (set in 1648), the French representative says he thought Luxembourg was Belgian. Belgium didn't exist as a state until 1830.

References Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)