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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
Chilperic II
Guntram
Childebert II
Queen Fritigand
Merovingian Gaul
The War Of Dahis and Al-Khabra
Quraysh
Islam
Roman Empire

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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes122Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksHistoryArts

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Artwork for Literature and History

Latest Episodes

From 750-861, a dynasty of ten caliphs seated in modern-day Iraq ruled one of history's largest empires. The territory they lost and won, the wars they fought, and the cultural renaissance that they helped usher in all had far reaching impacts on wor... more

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

Key Facts

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Host

Doug Metzger
Host of Literature and History, with a background in literature and a focus on historical contexts.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 3.8k ratings
  • On my must listen list

    Doug is charming and thoughtful and gives historical context to literature that was missing from my (many decades ago) humanities courses. I particularly appreciate that he doesn’t assume the listener has read the pieces he discusses and gives just enough snippets from the text to give you a sense of the work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J Buzzby
    Canada17 days ago
  • Superb!

    I write as an old man both highly educated and painfully aware of the huge gaps in my education. I have found nothing, ever, that fills so many of those gaps like this podcast, and I’m now only through the first season (plus a few scattered episodes) of the podcast. This podcast essentially provides a great foundation (really far more than just a foundation) for a fabulous liberal arts education. If this was a college course, or sequence of courses, it would be the best course that I have eve... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Festus Augustus
    United States24 days ago
  • Doug is a Scholar and a Gentleman!

    Full disclosure… I’m an addict for well curated, documented and presented historically oriented podcasts and this is one of my favorites. I appreciate everything about it; from the thoroughness to the logic of a chronological survey to the humor, the lyrics and most of all the brutal selflessness of undertaking such an endeavor.

    Also, and not surprisingly, Doug generously recognizes other podcast resources (Ancient Greece Declassified and The History of English) that he values.

    Thank you Doug ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lovebgam
    United States25 days ago
  • So much information!

    Just finished season 2 and purchased both sets of bonus seasons. Loving all of it so far. Learning so much, and so far has been an excellent companion to The Ancient World podcast. Thank you for all your hard work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bludvamp
    United Statesa month ago
  • Very good!

    Such a great podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maxime Poulin
    Canadaa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the absence of advertisements, seeing it as a dedication to high-quality educational content.
The host's delivery is often described as informative and enthusiastic, turning complex subjects into accessible content.
The original music and soundscapes received positive feedback, enhancing the auditory experience of each episode.
Listeners praise the podcast for its thorough and engaging exploration of literary and historical topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#24
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#72
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#29
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#39
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#72
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#114
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

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Literature and History

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

Exploring a breadth of literary and historical content, this podcast presents an extensive journey from ancient civilizations through to early Islamic history. Each episode meticulously covers significant works of literature, offering a comprehensive introduction and analysis that contextualizes the content within its cultural, biographical, and historical frameworks. Known for its structured approach, the show features original soundscapes, extensive educational resources, and a commitment to engaging storytelling, making it suitable for both academic enthusiasts and casual learners.

Where can I find podcast stats for Literature and History?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Literature and History. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Literature and History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Literature and History get?

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What are the audience demographics for Literature and History?

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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. The Ancient World

How many episodes of Literature and History are there?

Literature and History launched 10 years ago and published 122 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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