• Episode 109: Cornerstones
    Mar 15 2025

    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 introduces our new season on early Islamic History.

    The Actual First Novels Bonus Series:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content#tafn

    Literature and History's Upcoming Seasons:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/

    Episode 109 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-109-cornerstones

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 10 mins
  • Episode 108: Isidore of Seville
    Feb 15 2025

    One of the great scholars of Late Antiquity, Isidore (c. 560-636) left behind a compendium called the Etymologies, an encyclopedia of his epoch’s knowledge, a book second only to the Bible during the Middle Ages.

    Episode 108 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-108

    Episode 108 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-108-isidore-of-seville

    Bonus Content:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 14 mins
  • Episode 107: Venantius Fortunatus
    Jan 15 2025

    The Merovingian court poet Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530-600), at work in Francia in the late 500s, shows us the world of the Middle Ages blooming from Roman ruins.

    Episode 107 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-107

    Episode 107 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-107-venantius-fortunatus

    Bonus Content:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • Episode 106: Gregory of Tours, Part 2
    Dec 14 2024

    The second half of the History of the Franks (591) is a deep dive into the grime and intrigue of the Merovingian dynasty, written in a style that's as medieval as it is classical.

    Episode 106 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-106

    Episode 105 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-106-gregory-of-tours-part-2

    Bonus Content:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 8 mins
  • Episode 105: Gregory of Tours, Part 1
    Nov 7 2024

    Gregory of Tours (c. 539-594) completed The History of the Franks in 591. The long book's account of Clovis and the Merovingian Dynasty has been one of our most important sources on early Medieval History, ever since.

    Episode 105 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-105

    Episode 105 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-105-gregory-of-tours-part-1

    Bonus Content:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 27 mins
  • Episode 104: An Introduction to the Talmud
    Aug 9 2024

    Second only to the Tanakh, the 63 Tractates of the Talmud are the main text of Rabbinic Judaism, containing the teachings of thousands of ancient rabbis.

    Upcoming Seasons:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/upcoming-seasons/

    Episode 104 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-104

    Episode 104 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-104-introduction-to-the-talmud

    Bonus Content:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 22 mins
  • Episode 103: Boethius
    Sep 22 2023

    In the twilight of the Western Empire, Boethius (c. 476-523) served as consul, but ended his life imprisoned by the Ostrogothic King Theodoric, writing The Consolation of Philosophy.

    Episode103 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-103

    Episode 103Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-103-boethius

    Bonus Content:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 21 mins
  • Episode 102: An Old Man's Book (Augustine's City of God, Part 2 of 2)
    Mar 4 2023

    Augustine’s City of God, Part 2 of 2. The second half of the City of God contains some of Late Antiquity’s most influential writings – most notably Augustine’s take on Original Sin.

    Episode 102 Quiz:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-102

    Episode 102 Transcription:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-102-an-old-mans-book

    Bonus Content:
    https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content

    Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory

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    2 hrs and 28 mins