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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, the birth of Christianity, Late Antiquity, and dawn of the Middle Ages. The show's current season is on early Islamic history. 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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Literature and History
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Now displaying: 2025
Episode 116: The Life of Muhammad, Part 3: Conquest 0
Sep 15, 2025

During the final years of the Prophet Muhammad's life and the immediate aftermath of his death, the Muslims conquered Mecca, the first caliph Abu Bakr came to power, and the stage was set for the great Islamic conquests of the seventh century.

Episode 116 Quiz:
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-116/

Episode 116 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-116-the-life-of-muhammad-part-3

Bonus Content:
https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

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Episode 110: Questions 0
Mar 22, 2025

In Episode 110, Literature and History host Doug Metzger answers dozens of listener questions about making the show, books, and how and why the podcast came to be.

Literature and History's Upcoming Seasons:
https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/

The Actual First Novels Bonus Series:
https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content#tafn

Episode 110 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-110-questions/

Bonus Content:
https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

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

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https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/

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Episode 109: Cornerstones 0
Mar 15, 2025

Episode 109 brings our long season on Late Antiquity to a close, reviews the past 24 programs on the beginnings of the Middle Ages, and introduces our new season on early Islamic History.

The Actual First Novels Bonus Series:
https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content#tafn

Literature and History's Upcoming Seasons:
https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/

Episode 109 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-109-cornerstones/

Bonus Content:
https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

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

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https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/

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Episode 108: Isidore of Seville 0
Feb 15, 2025

One of the great scholars of Late Antiquity, Isidore (c. 560-636) left behind a compendium called the Etymologies, an encyclopedia of his epoch’s knowledge, a book second only to the Bible during the Middle Ages.

Episode 108 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-108/

Episode 108 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-108-isidore-of-seville/

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kT74jAXCA4

Bonus Content:
https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

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

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