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Artwork for Literature and History

Literature and History

Doug Metzger
Gregory Of Tours
Byzantine Empire
Merovingian Dynasty
Pre-Islamic Arabia
Antarah Ibn Shaddad
Muhammad
The History Of the Franks
Talmud
Bubonic Plague
Venantius Fortunatus
Arabic Poetry
Childebert II
Chilperic II
Guntram
Queen Fritigand
Merovingian Gaul
The War Of Dahis and Al-Khabra
Quraysh
Roman Empire
St. Martin's Church

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, ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes121Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksHistory

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Artwork for Literature and History

Latest Episodes

The Umayyad Caliphate, from 661-750, became the largest empire the world had ever known, even as it suffered through two civil wars and significant internal divisions. This episode covers its overall military, political, and cultural history. Episode... more

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: ht... more

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: historyofengli... more

Learn about the foundations of Islamic Law in the Qur'an - the 350 or so verses that tell believers what they're required to do, and what's prohibited. Episode 118 Quiz: literatureandhistory.com/quiz-118/ Episode 118 Transcription: li... more

Key Facts

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Host

Doug Metzger
Host with a Ph.D. in literature focusing on 19th-century realism and postbellum American philosophy, providing thorough, scholarly insight into literature's cultural history.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 3.8k ratings
  • Excellent

    Excellent pod. Very well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anita - R
    United States19 days ago
  • So great!!!!

    Informative, fascinating, and accessible. I’ve learned so much about books and dead people! Great to listen to for education, entertainment, relaxation, or all of the above. The songs go so hard. I can’t stop singing “Trojan war” and “boom boom seamonster”.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PeglegMcJohn
    United States22 days ago
  • Absolutely Fascinating!

    I might have enjoyed and stayed in college if I’d had professors like Doug! He takes eras and authors that I had zero interest in and makes them some of the most interesting topics ever. He takes these complex pieces of literature and makes them accessible to the casual listener while still diving deep enough for the well-studied.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jefisbored
    United States24 days ago
  • Hi! I pretty much enjoyed this podcast and learned a great deal about history and literature but, I'm quite disappointed about how when it reached the Islamic content, you put aside all the criticality and humor and became the mere narrator of the convenience.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Said.Changizi
    a month ago
  • Doug is literature teacher I always wanted but never had

    This podcast deep dives into all the books and plays I was supposed to read in my first year humanities class, but didn’t. I was a science major and I just never really felt any kind of anything for the standard literary canon. This podcast has changed all of that! It’s not just that Doug has an infectious enthusiasm, he puts it all into historical and cultural context that explains why I should care about them too. Greek plays make way more sense when you can imagine yourself as a drunken membe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C_Montgomery
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The engaging style and absence of advertisements are particularly praised, making the experience seamless and focused.
There are comments regarding the lack of ads and the overall professionalism without unnecessary distractions.
Many find the combination of music and well-researched material to be enriching, enhancing the learning experience.
Listeners appreciate the high-quality, scholarly content that offers clear insights into literature and its historical contexts.
Reviewers express gratitude for the detailed and entertaining approach that helps them connect with historical literature.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#45
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#18
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#49
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#53
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#118
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 115: The Life of Muhammad, Part 2: Community
Q: What is the significance of the Constitution of Medina?
It is a legal framework that established the rights and obligations of the Mumenun and their Jewish allies, promoting cooperation and equality within the diverse community of Yethrib.
Episode 110: Questions
Q: What is your favorite misconception you frequently encounter on the topics you researched so far?
The misconception that certain inventions or cultural practices originated with historical figures or societies, not recognizing the rich tapestry of interconnected human culture before those events.
Episode 110: Questions
Q: Do you think literature has changed or affirmed any biases you initially held?
The podcast has shown that literature can change perceptions and reaffirm human compassion in distressing historical contexts.
Episode 110: Questions
Q: How do you manage your time to produce these fully researched episodes?
Management comes from being a fast reader and writer, using established research tricks learned in grad school, and being motivated by listener appreciation.
Episode 110: Questions
Q: What is your research process for gathering information for the podcast?
The research begins with the main texts, followed by reading scholarly introductions and utilizing bibliographies to gather additional sources, including free library apps and academic databases.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Literature and History

What is Literature and History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides a comprehensive exploration of the cultural history surrounding famous literary works. It begins its journey in ancient Sumer and progresses through significant epochs such as Assyriology, Egyptology, and the early Middle Ages, currently focusing on early Islamic history. Episodes typically blend a structured introduction, detailed summaries, and analyses of the historical and cultural contexts that influenced various literary contributions. Unique elements include the incorporation of original music along with free illustrated, footnoted transcriptions and quizzes for engaged learning. The commitment to high-quality content without advertisements and light conversation sets this podcast apart as a professional educati... more

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How many listeners does Literature and History get?

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How many subscribers and views does Literature and History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Literature and History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Literature and History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Literature and History:

1. The History of English Podcast
2. The History of Literature
3. In Our Time
4. The Ancients
5. History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

How many episodes of Literature and History are there?

Literature and History launched 10 years ago and published 121 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Literature and History?

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