Retrospect
Journal.

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY'S HISTORY, CLASSICS AND ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE

Blog: https://retrospectjournal.com/
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Did Women Have Real Power in the Achaemenid Court?

In an effort to better understand the socio-political role of women in the Achaemenid empire, Eleonora Soteriou examines the various ways in which high-ranking women were able to exercise power–including holding property, hosting important social gatherings, and acting as diplomatic envoys.
Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel: The History of an Eponymous Fairground Ride

The Ferris wheel as we know it today was created for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. Verity Limond explores the story of the classic fairground ride’s invention, construction, and its legacy.
In Praise of Tears: A Short Intellectual History

Through use of semiotic discourse and structural rhetoric, Roland Barthes’ “A Lover’s Discourse” explores the symbolic nature of the tear. Georgia Smith presents a philosophical reading of this physical expression of unfettered emotion.
Woman’s Work: The Elusive Embroiderers of the Bayeux Tapestry

Despite remaining one of the most celebrated works of medieval art, there is little discussion of the women behind the creation of the Bayeux Tapestry. Naomi Wallace discusses the theories surrounding its origins and the needleworkers responsible for this famous masterpiece.
Victoria 3: How Historical Strategy Games Shape Views on the Past

The video game industry has had a profound influence on shaping public understanding of history, not least in the strategy genre. Aleksandrs Skulte discusses both the positives and pitfalls of “Victoria 3”, and the pedagogical opportunities this form of popular media presents.
The History of the Bikini: Clothing as Evidence of Female Oppression

With a history dating as far back as 5600 BC, the story of the bikini is one of liberation and resistance, although not without conservative backlash. Isabelle Shaw examines the link between changing fashions and women’s autonomy.
Film Review – All Quiet on the Western Front (2022): A Gut-Wrenching Tale of War

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (2022) explores the brutality and trauma of war, following the life of a German soldier during WWI. Fleur O’Reilly reviews Edward Berger’s adaption of this classic work.
A Brief History of the Medieval Revival

As industrialisation swelled in the Western world, societies looked towards the medieval past as a means of legitimising their history. Megan Crutchley explores the forms this took in the US and UK, and the manner in which it was embedded in white elitism.