
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
| Publishes | Monthly | Episodes | 121 | Founded | 10 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsBooksHistory | |||

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
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Excellent pod. Very well done.
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”.
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.
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.
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
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Apple Podcasts | #45 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #53 | |
Apple Podcasts | #118 |
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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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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
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.
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