Murasaki Shikibu, sometimes known in English as Lady Murasaki, lived during Japan’s Heian period. She was a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shoshi, and is credited with writing the Japanese classic literature work, "Tale of Genji."

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Murasaki Shikibu, sometimes known in English as Lady Murasaki, lived during Japan’s Heian period. She was a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shoshi, and is credited with writing the Japanese classic literature work, "Tale of Genji." Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Murasaki Shikibu and the Tale of Genji

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This 2020 episode covers the Flexner Report, which is often credited with changing the medical field and shaping what medical education looks like today. But this document negatively impacted medicine in the Black community. 

This 2020 episode covers the Flexner Report, which is often credited with changing the medical field and shaping what medical education looks like today. But this document negatively impacted medicine in the Black community.&nbsp;

SYMHC Classics: Flexner Report

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Tracy and Holly talk about corporal punishment in schools and student loans. Tracy relays her experience at the British Museum.

Tracy and Holly talk about corporal punishment in schools and student loans. Tracy relays her experience at the British Museum.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Paddles and The British Museum

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Ashurbanipal was the ruler of the Assyrian empire in the 7th century BCE. His 38-year reign was marked by both scholarship and a terrifying brutality.

Research:
"Babylon." Britannica Library, Encyclopædia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2025. libraries.state.ma.us/login?eburl=https%3A%2F%2Flibrary.eb.com&ebtarget=%2Flevels%2Freferencecenter%2Farticle%2FBabylon%2F11618&ebboatid=9265928. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.
Ashurbanipal Library Project. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/asbp/index.html
" Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, Gale, 1998. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631000306/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=f497ef8d. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.
Bonatz, Dominik. “Ashurbanipal's Headhunt: An Anthropological Perspective.” Iraq , 2004, Vol. 66, Nineveh. Papers of the 49th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Part One (2004). https://www.jstor.org/stable/4200564
“Ashurbanipal.” https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/ashurbanipal
Fincke, Jeanette C. “The British Museum's Ashurbanipal Library Project.” Iraq , 2004, Vol. 66, Nineveh. Papers of the 49th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Part One (2004). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4200559
Hughes, Tristan. “Ashurbanipal: The Last Great King of Assyria.” The Ancients podcast. 8/20/2025. https://shows.acast.com/the-ancients/episodes/ashurbanipal-the-last-great-king-of-assyria
Osborne, James. “He tried to conquer knowledge itself – instead this ancient Mesopotamian king resorted to rule with terror.” History Extra. 8/14/2025. https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/he-tried-to-conquer-knowledge-itself/
Taylor, Jonathan. 'About the project', Ashurbanipal Library Project, The Ashurbanipal Library Project, Department of the Middle East, The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, 2022 http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/asbp/Abouttheproject/
The British Museum. “Who was Ashurbanipal?” https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/who-was-ashurbanipal
Urbanus, Jason. “Royal Bibliophile.” Archaeology. Jul/Aug2024, Vol. 77 Issue 4, p40-41.
Wilkes, Jonny. “Ashurbanipal 'the Great', the Lion of Assyria.” History Extra. https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/who-was-ashurbanipal-lion-assyria-facts/
Wiseman, Donald John. "Ashurbanipal". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 May. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ashurbanipal. Accessed 17 August 2026
Wisnom, Selena. “The Library of Ashurbanipal.” History Today. 4/4/2025. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/library-ashurbanipal

Ashurbanipal was the ruler of the Assyrian empire in the 7th century BCE. His 38-year reign was marked by both scholarship and a terrifying brutality.
Research:
<ul>
<li>"Babylon." Britannica Library, Encyclop&aelig;dia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2025. libraries.state.ma.us/login?eburl=https%3A%2F%2Flibrary.eb.com&amp;ebtarget=%2Flevels%2Freferencecenter%2Farticle%2FBabylon%2F11618&amp;ebboatid=9265928. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.</li>
<li>Ashurbanipal Library Project. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/asbp/index.html</li>
<li>" Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, Gale, 1998. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631000306/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&amp;sid=bookmark-GPS&amp;xid=f497ef8d. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.</li>
<li>Bonatz, Dominik. &ldquo;Ashurbanipal's Headhunt: An Anthropological Perspective.&rdquo; Iraq , 2004, Vol. 66, Nineveh. Papers of the 49th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Part One (2004). https://www.jstor.org/stable/4200564</li>
<li>&ldquo;Ashurbanipal.&rdquo; https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/ashurbanipal</li>
<li>Fincke, Jeanette C. &ldquo;The British Museum's Ashurbanipal Library Project.&rdquo; Iraq , 2004, Vol. 66, Nineveh. Papers of the 49th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Part One (2004). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4200559</li>
<li>Hughes, Tristan. &ldquo;Ashurbanipal: The Last Great King of Assyria.&rdquo; The Ancients podcast. 8/20/2025. https://shows.acast.com/the-ancients/episodes/ashurbanipal-the-last-great-king-of-assyria</li>
<li>Osborne, James. &ldquo;He tried to conquer knowledge itself &ndash; instead this ancient Mesopotamian king resorted to rule with terror.&rdquo; History Extra. 8/14/2025. https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/he-tried-to-conquer-knowledge-itself/</li>
<li>Taylor, Jonathan. 'About the project', Ashurbanipal Library Project, The Ashurbanipal Library Project, Department of the Middle East, The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, 2022 http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/asbp/Abouttheproject/</li>
<li>The British Museum. &ldquo;Who was Ashurbanipal?&rdquo; https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/who-was-ashurbanipal</li>
<li>Urbanus, Jason. &ldquo;Royal Bibliophile.&rdquo; Archaeology. Jul/Aug2024, Vol. 77 Issue 4, p40-41.</li>
<li>Wilkes, Jonny. &ldquo;Ashurbanipal 'the Great', the Lion of Assyria.&rdquo; History Extra. https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/who-was-ashurbanipal-lion-assyria-facts/</li>
<li>Wiseman, Donald John. "Ashurbanipal". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 May. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ashurbanipal. Accessed 17 August 2026</li>
<li>Wisnom, Selena. &ldquo;The Library of Ashurbanipal.&rdquo; History Today. 4/4/2025. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/library-ashurbanipal</li>
</ul>

Ashurbanipal was the ruler of the Assyrian empire in the 7th century BCE. His 38-year reign was marked by both scholarship and a terrifying brutality.

Ashurbanipal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a973b4c3-8c45-436d-a1a3-b4bc013edd1b/transcript

Murasaki Shikibu and the Tale of Genji

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