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Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst 

Doug Metzger

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.

Literature and History

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
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 128: Early Sufism

DOUG'S NEW BOOK - The Odyssey: An Illustrated Guide
 
 COLORING BOOK VERSION - The Odyssey Coloring Book
 
 Bashshar ibn Burd, feisty, restless, brilliant, and wise, was one of the founding figures of Classical Arabic poetry. Learn about his wife and works in this episode.
 
 Episode 127 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-127/
 
 Episode 127 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-127-bashshar-ibn-burd
 
 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
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 127: Bashshar ibn Burd

Kalilah and Dimnah, a cornerstone of Classical Arabic literature, is one of the most beloved story collections in history.
 
 DOUG'S NEW BOOK - The Odyssey: An Illustrated Guide
 
 COLORING BOOK VERSION - The Odyssey Coloring Book
 
 NYU PRESS KALILAH AND DIMNAH - Kalilah and Dimnah: Fables of Virtue and Vice
 
 Episode 126 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-126/
 
 Episode 126 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-126-kalilah-and-dimnah
 
 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
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 126: Kalilah and Dimnah

The Bundahisn is the Zoroastrian creation story. At once an epic and encyclopedia, it's also a window into the end of Zoroastrianism's ascendancy in Iran.
 
 Episode 125 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-125/
 
 Episode 125 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-125-the-zoroastrian-bundahisn
 
 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
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 125: The Zoroastrian Bundahisn

DOUG'S NEW BOOK - The Odyssey: An Illustrated Guide
 
 COLORING BOOK VERSION - The Odyssey Coloring Book
 
 Episode 124 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-124/
 
 Episode 124 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-124-the-last-great-war-of-antiquity
 
 Image Credit: Alborz Fallah
 
 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
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 124: The Last Great War of Antiquity

The hadiths are second only to the Qur'an in Islam. Short narratives about the Prophet Muhammad - the things he said and did - hadiths have been a source of wisdom and inspiration for Muslims for more than a thousand years.
 
 Episode 123 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-123/
 
 Episode 123 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-123-an-introduction-to-the-hadiths
 
 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
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 123: An Introduction to the Hadiths

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 world history.
 
 Ancient Novels Interview:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zrUMtCpNt4
 
 Oresteia Interview:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK7e8WOOl4g
 
 Episode 122 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-122/
 
 Episode 122 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-122-the-early-abbasid-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
 
 TikTok:
 https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast
 
 Bluesky:
 https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 122: The Early Abbasid Caliphate

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 121 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-121/
 
 Episode 121 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-121-the-umayyad-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
 
 TikTok:
 https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast
 
 Bluesky:
 https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 121: The Umayyad Caliphate

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
 
 TikTok:
 https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast
 
 Bluesky:
 https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 120: The Rashidun Caliphate

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
 
 TikTok:
 https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast
 
 Bluesky:
 https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social
 
 X
 https://x.com/lahpodcast

Episode 128: Early Sufism

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

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