Category: Academic
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The Osteological Paradox and Biomolecular Analysis – A Solution, At Last?
Written by Etta Coleman. The discipline of Osteoarchaeology is paradoxical by nature – those diseases which sweep populations are often too quick to leave a permanent mark on the bones. Etta Coleman discusses whether this is something that can be overcome with Polymerase Chain Reaction testing.
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Should we be Applying the Term “Religion” to Ancient Societies?
Written by Kavisha Kamalanathan. Is justifiable to project the term “religion” backwards to ancient societies? Kavisha Kamalanathan discusses the nuances of ancient Greek and Roman belief systems, their relation to nature, society and the state, pointing to them being in many crucial ways fundamentally different from our modern notions of religion.
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The King, the Colony and the Case of Patrice Lumumba
Written by Megan Sickmueller. A haunting legacy of King Leopold II of Belgium in the Congo, Megan Sickmueller tracks the country’s recent history and the fall of Patrice Lumumba.
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Leonhard Euler and the Russian Connection
Written by Kat Jivkova. Leonhard Euler was in his own time recognised as the most distinguished mathematician of the eighteenth century, though certain circumstances of his life have brushed aside. Kat Jivkova discusses his deep connection to St. Petersburg, a site of his scientific achievements and eventual home.
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Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: Who was Catherine Parr?
Written by Eva Campbell. Catherine Parr is perhaps the least discussed of Henry VIII’s wives, dismissed as the carer or nurse that comforted Henry at the end of his life. But did the woman who survived have a more complex relationship with the King? How do we restore the life of Catherine Parr in popular…
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Sealand: Radio to Royalty
Written by Sam Marks. The history of radio in the UK may seem a simple trajectory, but few people remember the political turmoil associated with pirate radio, especially in the case of Sealand. What was the importance of this land, and how did radio create a new sovereign nation?
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Epicurus on pleasure: Epicurus’ views on pleasure and its relation to the good life.
Written by Kavisha Kamalananthan. The philosophy of Epicurus is often overshadowed by his contemporaries or successors, yet his insights into pleasure and the human condition are invaluable. What did he have to say on the ‘good life’? And how has this influenced the history of philosophy?
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Are the Gospels Reliable Sources? Part Seven: ‘I am he.’ – So what…
Written by Alex Smith. In the conclusion to his semester-spanning critical examination of the gospels as historical documents, Alex Smith pauses to reflect over their full significance.
Retrospect Journal 