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Literature and History

Literature and History

By: Doug Metzger
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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. Art Literary History & Criticism World
Episodes
  • Episode 130: An Introduction to Early Medieval Literature

    Episode 130: An Introduction to Early Medieval Literature
    Oct 15 2026

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    Learn about how literature in vernacular languages began, and Latin literature continued, during the early centuries of the Middle Ages.

    Episode 130 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-130-an-introduction-to-early-medieval-literature

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

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

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

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    2 hrs and 32 mins
  • Episode 129: We Are the Grass

    Episode 129: We Are the Grass
    Sep 11 2026

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    Bonus Content (Buy it the normal way):
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    A retrospective on our podcast's enormous coverage of the Abrahamic religions, an introduction to the new season, and some special announcements.

    Episode 129 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-129-are-the-grass

    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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    2 hrs and 8 mins
  • Episode 128: Early Sufism

    Episode 128: Early Sufism
    Aug 15 2026

    Sufism emerged in the 700s and 800s as a powerful part of Islam's development under the caliphates. This episode covers its early history, focusing on a generation of thinkers who lived between about 850 and 920.

    Episode 128 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-128/

    Episode 128 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-128-early-sufism

    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

    Bluesky:
    https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social

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    1 hr and 56 mins
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