Literature and History – Details, episodes & analysis

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Podcast Literature and History

Literature and History

Doug Metzger

Arts
History

Frequency: 1 episode/30d. Total Eps: 126

Hosting podcast Libsyn
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, and the early 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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Score global : 79%

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Episode 120: The Rashidun Caliphate

Season 7 · Episode 120

lundi 15 décembre 2025 • Duration 02:24:45

The Rashidun caliphate, from 632-661, completely changed the history of the world. Learn the story of the greatest imperial expansion of the first millennium, together with the complex political and theological history behind it.

Episode 120 Quiz:
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-120/

Episode 120 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-120-the-rashidun-caliphate

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast

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Episode 119: The Qur'an, Part 3: Origins

Season 7 · Episode 119

mercredi 22 octobre 2025 • Duration 02:19:04

The Qur'an has deep roots in the Bible and in the unique religious climate of Late Antique Mecca. Learn about its many references to the Bible and ancient Arabian religion in this episode.

Kevin Stroud's The History of English:
https://historyofenglishpodcast.com/

Episode 119 Quiz:
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-119/

Episode 119 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-119-the-quran-part-3

Oxford M.A.S. Abdel Haleem Qur'an

Penguin Tarif Khalidi Qur'an

HarperOne Study Qur'an, ed. Seyyed Hossein Nasr et. al.

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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Episode 110: Questions

Season 6 · Episode 110

samedi 22 mars 2025 • Duration 02:20:50

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast

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Episode 20: The Problem of Evil (The Book of Job)

Season 2 · Episode 20

vendredi 15 juillet 2016 • Duration 01:28:30

The Old Testament, Part 6 of 10. If God is so good, then why do the good and innocent suffer? The Book of Job's aim is to answer this question.

Episode 20 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-020/

Episode 20 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-020-the-problem-of-evil

Song
https://youtu.be/h9603n09bug

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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Episode 19: The One Who Struggles with God (The Historical Books and Biblical Archaeology)

Season 2 · Episode 19

mercredi 29 juin 2016 • Duration 02:08:30

The Old Testament, Part 5 of 10. The Historical Books tell of Israel's conflicts with Syria, Assyria, Egypt, and finally, exile to the corridors of Babylon.

Episode 19 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-019/

Episode 19 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-019-the-one-who-struggles-with-god

Song
https://youtu.be/4QWkszvhg6g

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast

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Episode 18: The 613 Commandments (The Pentateuch's Prescriptive Materials)

Season 2 · Episode 18

mercredi 15 juin 2016 • Duration 01:44:18

The Old Testament, Part 4 of 10. Eden, the Flood, the Commandments– all fine. But what's with all the stuff about tents, sacrifices, and – uh – testicles?

Episode 18 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-018/

Episode 18 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-018-the-613-commandments

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_Rh2OONnxM

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast

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Episode 17: Roots of the Pentateuch (The Pentateuch and Comparative Mythography)

Season 2 · Episode 17

mercredi 1 juin 2016 • Duration 01:56:14

The Old Testament, Part 3 of 10. Hear the Biblical story of creation and the first founders of Israel, and the texts that may have influenced this story.

Episode 17 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-017/

Episode 17 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-017-roots-of-the-pentateuch

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uBUw1jEnw

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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Episode 16: Four Main Parts (Introduction to the Bible's Structure)

Season 2 · Episode 16

mercredi 25 mai 2016 • Duration 01:13:31

The Old Testament, Part 2 of 10. There are tons of books, thousands of proper nouns, and many versions of the Old Testament. But all of it fits into four main parts.

Episode 16 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-016/

Episode 16 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-016-four-main-parts

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTOi9p0NkO4

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast

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Episode 15: Canaan (Biblical History and Archaeology)

Season 2 · Episode 15

vendredi 13 mai 2016 • Duration 01:32:10

The Old Testament, Part 1 of 10. 1207 BCE. Two world empires. And between them, an unassuming strip of seacoast land that has been at the center of history, ever since.

Episode 15 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-015/

Episode 15 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-015-canaan

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsd53FrHRPY

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

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Episode 14: The Autumn Leaves (Homer's Odyssey, Books 17-24)

Season 1 · Episode 14

mercredi 27 avril 2016 • Duration 02:11:07

The Odyssey, Books 17-24. As we reach the violent climax of Odysseus' great adventures, it's time to spend some time considering Homer's worldview.

Episode 14 Quiz
https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-014/

Episode 14 Transcription:
https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-014-the-autumn-leaves

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBnFA5pOAcc

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

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

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory

TikTok:
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