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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

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 119: The Qur'an, Part 3: Origins

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:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-118/
 
 Episode 118 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-118-the-quran-part-2
 
 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 118: The Qur'an, Part 2: Ordinances

Learn the basics of the Qur'an - its size, structure, how and when it came together, and the book's most important contents.
 
 Episode 117 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-117/
 
 Episode 117 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-117-the-quran-part-1
 
 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 117: The Qur'an, Part 1: Overview

During the final years of the Prophet Muhammad's life and the immediate aftermath of his death, the Muslims conquered Mecca, the first caliph Abu Bakr came to power, and the stage was set for the great Islamic conquests of the seventh century.
 
 Episode 116 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-116/
 
 Episode 116 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-116-the-life-of-muhammad-part-3
 
 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 116: The Life of Muhammad, Part 3: Conquest

Between 622 and 628, Muhammad and the first Muslims made a home from themselves in Medina, fended off assaults from the Quraysh and others, and changed the course of history forever.
 
 New Spotify Bonus Content Channel:
 https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lahbonuscontent/subscribe
 
 New Patreon Store:
 https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory/shop
 
 Episode 115 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-115/
 
 Episode 115 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-115-the-life-of-muhammad-part-2
 
 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 115: The Life of Muhammad, Part 2: Community

An orphan and caravan trade agent, Muhammad (570-632) lived a fairly ordinary life up until the age of 40. Then, everything changed.
 
 New Songs Page:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/songs/
 
 Episode 114 Quiz:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-114/
 
 Episode 114 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-114-the-life-of-muhammad-part-1
 
 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 114: The Life of Muhammad, Part 1: Cobwebs

Antarah ibn Shaddad, a killer, a lover, and an epic hero, was also one of early Arabic literature's most famous poets.
 
 Parker's Song:
 https://youtu.be/bTVWrxfb5wk
 
 Episode 113 Quiz
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-113/
 
 Episode 113 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-113-antarah-ibn-shaddad
 
 Antarah's Poetry:
 War Songs (Library of Arabic Literature)
 
 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 113: Antarah ibn Shaddad

Prior to the dawn of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula had a great poetic tradition, with many genres, and many poets who are still celebrated and studied today.
 
 Episode 112 Quiz
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-112/
 
 Episode 112 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-112-pre-islamic-arabic-poetry/
 
 Song
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibs86z0py04
 
 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 112: Pre-Islamic Arabic Poetry

Leading up to the birth of the Prophet Muhammad in about 570 CE, the Arabian Peninsula was an increasingly populous and globally interconnected region.
 
 Episode 111 Quiz
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-111/
 
 Episode 111 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-111-pre-islamic-arabia/
 
 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 111: Pre-Islamic Arabia

In Episode 110, Literature and History host Doug Metzger answers dozens of listener questions about making the show, books, and how and why the podcast came to be.
 
 Literature and History's Upcoming Seasons:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/
 
 The Actual First Novels Bonus Series:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content#tafn
 
 Episode 110 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-110-questions/
 
 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 110: Questions

For thousands of years, cuneiform was the means of transmitting information through space and time in the Ancient Near East. Then, something happened.
 
 Episode 1 Quiz
 https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-001/
 
 Episode 1 Transcription:
 https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-001-the-tower-of-babel
 
 Song
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXGtHWka5mI
 
 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 1: The Tower of Babel (Cuneiform)

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