In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating history of perfume, tracing its journey from Ancient Mesopotamia to its artistic development in France.

We'll learn how scents have evolved from practical uses to luxury items, and discover the intriguing world of “grands nez,” the master perfumers who dedicate their lives to crafting these aromatic masterpieces.

• Perfume origins: from Mesopotamia to Middle Eastern innovation
• Ancient perfume use: religious rituals and practical odour cover
• Egypt: Perfume as a status symbol in hot climates
• Cleopatra and the power of scent
• Roman perfume indulgence and imported fragrances
• French perfume evolution: From leather gloves to luxury
• Grasse: The perfume capital of the world
• Why perfume is expensive: ingredients and branding
• Becoming a "grand nez": the perfumer's journey
• Perfume's artistic and historical significance across cultures

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In this episode, we'll explore the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Discover how he turned a fragmented resistance into a national movement, established a secular republic from imperial ruins, and why he’s still called "The Father of the Turks."

• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's famous 36-hour speech, Nutuk
• Decline and Fall of the Ottoman Empire
• Reasons for the Ottoman Empire's decline
• The Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I
• Mustafa Kemal's rise as a military leader
• Turkish War of Independence overview
• Establishment of the Republic of Turkey
• Atatürk's radical reforms and modernisation
• Introduction of secularism and language reform
• Legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

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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

In this episode of Thinking in English, host Tom Wilkinson explores the past perfect continuous tense, using the 2008 financial crisis as a case study.

The episode covers the grammar rules and structures of the past perfect continuous tense, emphasising its usage to describe actions that started in the past, continued for some time, and were ongoing or just finished before another event.

The lesson includes in-depth examples and concludes with a discussion on Michael Burry, who had been predicting the financial collapse for years.

Links

Website - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/

Study Pack - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish/shop/study-packs-past-present-and-future-807289

TiE Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/thinkinginenglish

Find Out More - https://linktr.ee/thinkinginenglishpod

00:00 Introduction

01:39 Grammar Lesson

04:42 Financial Crisis and Past Perfect Continuous

10:56 Final Thought

In this episode, we'll explore the incredible story of Percy Fawcett, a daring British explorer who vanished in the Amazon rainforest while searching for the mythical city he called "Z."

Often compared to a real-life Indiana Jones, Fawcett's life was filled with adventure, mystery, and a relentless quest to prove the Amazon held secrets beyond our imagination.

• Percy Fawcett: Real-life Indiana Jones
• Fawcett's early life and aristocratic background
• His fascination with exploration and adventure
• His expeditions in the Amazon rainforest
• Fawcett's quest for the lost city "Z"
• Impact of World War I on Fawcett's views
• 1925 expedition disappearance with son and friend
• Various theories on Fawcett's mysterious fate
• Legacy and influence of Percy Fawcett's explorations
• The possible existence of advanced Amazon civilisations

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A woman has a loving husband and children, and she's great at her job. So why is she sad? One day, she opens the freezer door and sees the way into another world. If she goes, she will lose her husband and children. But could she be happy there?

Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Door for the full transcript.

Level: Beginner.

Genre: Philosophical.

Vocabulary: Freeze, Freezer, Cheek, Pick at, Kid, Nightmare, Gooseberry, Cliff, Sober, Weigh something up, Parallel universe.

Setting: Modern.

Word Count: 1517.

Author: Ariel Goodbody.

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.

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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

Leap years help keep our calendars in sync with Earth's orbit, but have you ever wondered why we need them?

In this episode, we explore the history of leap years, covering early human calendars, Julius Caesar's reforms, and the adjustments introduced by Pope Gregory XIII.

• Why do we need leap years?
• Earth's orbit and the solar year explained
• How the first calendars were created
• Egyptian and Roman calendar systems
• The Julian calendar's introduction of leap years
• Inaccuracies in Caesar's calendar calculations
• The Gregorian calendar and its leap-year rule
• Challenges in adopting the Gregorian calendar
• Alternative calendar systems proposed over time
• The impossibility of changing Earth's orbit for an exact year

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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

In this episode, we will explore Vladimir Putin's unlikely journey from a rat-catching streetfighter to the modern-day tsar of Russia.

We'll look at his rise to power, some of the accusations about what it took to get there, the key decisions that have defined his 25-year rule, and question how history will remember his legacy.

• Vladimir Putin's early life and rise to power
• Siege of Leningrad during World War Two
• Putin's upbringing in poverty and street life
• Putin's early interest in the KGB
• Putin's political career and rise in St Petersburg
• Connections and corruption allegations in early political life
• Putin becomes Russia's Prime Minister in 1999
• Controversy surrounding the 1999 apartment bombings
• Consolidation of power and suppression of opposition
• Putin's use of poison to eliminate opponents

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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