Episode 128: Early Sufism
Sufism emerged in the 700s and 800s as a powerful part of Islam's development under the caliphates. This episode covers its early history, f...
Radio and PodcastLive Radio & Podcasts
Arts
Literature and History
A podcast covering Anglophone literature from ancient times to the present.
Episodes
20 of 128 episodes
Episode 127: Bashshar ibn Burd
DOUG'S NEW BOOK - The Odyssey: An Illustrated Guide COLORING BOOK VERSION - The Odyssey Coloring Book Bashshar ibn Burd, feisty, restless, b...
Episode 126: Kalilah and Dimnah
Kalilah and Dimnah, a cornerstone of Classical Arabic literature, is one of the most beloved story collections in history. DOUG'S NEW BOOK -...
Episode 125: The Zoroastrian Bundahisn
The Bundahisn is the Zoroastrian creation story. At once an epic and encyclopedia, it's also a window into the end of Zoroastrianism's ascen...
Episode 124: The Last Great War of Antiquity
DOUG'S NEW BOOK - The Odyssey: An Illustrated Guide COLORING BOOK VERSION - The Odyssey Coloring Book Episode 124 Quiz: https://literaturean...
Episode 123: An Introduction to the Hadiths
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...
Episode 122: The Early Abbasid Caliphate
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, th...
Episode 121: The Umayyad 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 sign...
Episode 120: The Rashidun Caliphate
The Rashidun caliphate, from 632-661, completely changed the history of the world. Learn the story of the greatest imperial expansion of the...
Episode 119: The Qur'an, Part 3: Origins
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 Bib...
Episode 118: The Qur'an, Part 2: Ordinances
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...
Episode 117: The Qur'an, Part 1: Overview
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 Qui...
Episode 116: The Life of Muhammad, Part 3: Conquest
During the final years of the Prophet Muhammad's life and the immediate aftermath of his death, the Muslims conquered Mecca, the first calip...
Episode 115: The Life of Muhammad, Part 2: Community
Between 622 and 628, Muhammad and the first Muslims made a home from themselves in Medina, fended off assaults from the Quraysh and others,...
Episode 114: The Life of Muhammad, Part 1: Cobwebs
An orphan and caravan trade agent, Muhammad (570-632) lived a fairly ordinary life up until the age of 40. Then, everything changed. New Son...
Episode 113: Antarah ibn Shaddad
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:...
Episode 112: Pre-Islamic Arabic Poetry
Prior to the dawn of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula had a great poetic tradition, with many genres, and many poets who are still celebrated an...
Episode 111: Pre-Islamic Arabia
Leading up to the birth of the Prophet Muhammad in about 570 CE, the Arabian Peninsula was an increasingly populous and globally interconnec...
Episode 110: Questions
In Episode 110, Literature and History host Doug Metzger answers dozens of listener questions about making the show, books, and how and why...
Episode 109: Cornerstones
Episode 109 brings our long season on Late Antiquity to a close, reviews the past 24 programs on the beginnings of the Middle Ages, and intr...