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Literature and History

With millions of downloads, hundreds of hours of soundtracked content, and an overall emphasis on the cultural history behind famous works of literature, Literature and History is one of the most popular independent podcasts on its subject. Starting with Sumerian cuneiform in 3,100 BCE, Literature and History moves forward in chronological order through Assyriology, Egyptology, the Old Testament, Ancient Greece and Rome, and the birth of Christianity. The show's current season is on Late Antiquity (or 200-700 CE) and the dawn of the Middle Ages. A typical episode (they average about two hours) features a general introduction to a work of literature, then a full summary of that work that expects no prior knowledge, and finally, an analysis of the cultural, biographical, and historical forces that gave rise to the work in question. Original symphonic and ambient background music is woven throughout each show, and all episodes offer free full, illustrated, footnoted transcriptions as well as quizzes for purposes of review. The show has no advertisements, and its host takes pride in a professional approach that avoids chitchat and ephemera and gets straight to the educational content. You can listen to the episodes in any order, although most listeners begin at the beginning and proceed from there, as the podcast itself is chronologically organized. Doug Metzger finished his Ph.D. in literature in 2011. His chief scholarly interest, following his dissertation work, continues to be 19th-century realism and postbellum American philosophy.
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Now displaying: April, 2017
Apr 24, 2017

The Hellenistic period – 330-30 BCE, saw Alexander’s successor kingdoms rotting away in the east, the rise of Rome, and the birth of modern consciousness.

Episode 40 Quiz:
http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/episode-40-quiz

Episode 40 Transcription:
http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/episode-040-hellenism-and-the-birth-of-the-self

Bonus Content:
http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/bonus-content

Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

Apr 4, 2017

Apollonius’ Jason and the Argonauts, Books 3-4. Mesmerizing Medea takes center stage at the Argonautica’s end, dominating the epic’s events.

Episode 39 Quiz:
http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/episode-39-quiz

Episode 39 Transcription:
http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/episode-039-medea-and-the-argonauts

Episode 39 Song: "Jason's Power Ballad"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BqyO8XFT5U

Bonus Content:
http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/bonus-content

Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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