logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
26m 22s

#536 | A Brief History of Mercenaries

Leonardo English
About this episode

💊 Register for "The Mules": https://bit.ly/TheMules25

Registration closes 23:59 03/09/2023 || Summer Offer €99 only (€30 off)

--


In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating history of mercenaries, taking you from the era of Italian condottieri to the modern day with groups like Blackwater and Wagner.

 

You'll learn how these soldiers for hire have evolved, the reasons nations use or avoid them, and their impact on 21st-century warfare.

 
  • What are mercenaries? Definition and historical context.
  • Origins and role of freelance knights in Medieval Europe.
  • Renaissance Italy: The rise of the condottieri.
  • Impact and decline of the condottieri.
  • Blackwater: A modern private military company.
  • Private Military Contractors and international law issues.
  • The Wagner Group and its ties to Russia.
  • Wagner's global influence and alleged war crimes.
  • Mercenaries in business and war: Ethical dilemmas.
  • Future of warfare with mercenary involvement.

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/mercenaries

---

You might like:

💊 Join The Mules (closes 23:59 06/07/2025)

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

Up next
Jul 3
#555 | Mobutu Sese Seko | The King of the Kleptocrats
Meet Mobutu Sese Seko, the man who rose from a lowly army officer to become the autocratic ruler of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Wearing his signature leopard-skin hat, Mobutu rebranded the country as Zaire and himself as a symbol of African pride. Despite his charismati ... Show More
26m 5s
Jun 19
#553 | A Short History Of The Minimum Wage
In this episode, we'll explore the complex world of minimum wage laws, from their surprising origins in Australia and New Zealand to modern debates around their effectiveness. Do they protect the lowest-paid workers, or do they do more damage than good? History of the minimum wag ... Show More
24m 56s
Jun 5
#550 | The Egyptian Revolution
In 2011, Egypt erupted in protest, toppling a 30-year regime.What began as a grassroots movement against an autocratic leader turned into a complex struggle for democracy and power.In this episode, we'll travel through the events that led from the hopeful dawn of revolution to th ... Show More
28m 1s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
On Patrol with The 13th Legion (ft. Andrew from Culips English Podcast)
In episode two, a devoted historian named Bobby decides to travel back to the Roman era to speak with Julius Caesar. Unfortunately, he gets his timing wrong and ends up fighting for his life.--Guest starring Andrew Bates from Culips English Podcast.--Free interactive transcript, ... Show More
16m 58s
Apr 29
933. The Best Expressions in English are from Shakespeare ✍️ Learn English Vocabulary
Hello! In this episode I focus on English expressions and idioms that originated in the works of William Shakespeare and are still used in modern everyday language. Notice the expressions in various contexts, fully understand their meanings and use, explore their origins in Shake ... Show More
1h 29m
Oct 2024
Your English Five a Day #48.4
🎙️ E387 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. ⏯️ Listen and read along on The English Like a Native Podcast YouTube channel. ⭐ BONUS MATERIAL ⭐ Access bonus episodes, live classe ... Show More
15m 18s
Nov 2024
Your English Five a Day #56.1
🎙️ E432 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. Five-a-Day Database Access all the vocabulary covered in the Five-a-Day series. This database is constantly updated. You can even ma ... Show More
14m 29s
Sep 2024
Your English Five a Day #47.4
🎙️ E381 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. ⏯️ Listen and read along on The English Like a Native Podcast YouTube channel. ⭐ BONUS MATERIAL ⭐ Access bonus episodes, live classe ... Show More
15m 2s
Oct 2024
Your English Five a Day #49.1
🎙️ E390 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. ⭐ BONUS MATERIAL ⭐ Access bonus episodes, live classes, transcripts & vocabulary lists here: https://englishlikeanative.co.uk/elan-p ... Show More
15m 7s
Sep 2024
Your English Five a Day #48.1
🎙️ E384 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. ⏯️ Listen and read along on The English Like a Native Podcast YouTube channel. ⭐ BONUS MATERIAL ⭐ Access bonus episodes, live classe ... Show More
17m 10s
Sep 2024
Your English Five a Day #47.5
🎙️ E382 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. Five-a-Day Database Access all the vocabulary covered in the Five-a-Day series. This database is constantly updated. Get access now ... Show More
16m 36s
Dec 2024
Your English Five a Day #57.2
🎙️ E439 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. ⭐ SUPPORTING MATERIAL ⭐ Bonus Materials: episodes, transcripts, live classes & vocabulary lists HERE! Five-a-Day Database: All vocab ... Show More
18m 31s
Mar 2025
#434 - Discover the ORIGIN of Words in English — Learn Vocabulary More Easily
Listen with FREE Interactive Transcript only on the RealLife App. Have you ever wondered why English words are the way they are? In this episode, Izzy and Ksenia dive into the fascinating world of etymology—the study of word origins! Understanding where words come from can make t ... Show More
33m 37s