...Renaissance Punishment/Torture Torture devices were used all throughout the Middle Ages as a way to punish criminals and get a confession from someone. The word torture comes from the Latin word ‘tortura’ ultimately deriving from the word ‘torquere’ meaning “to twist”. The torture and punishment depended on the victim’s crime and social status. Torture was the most common form of punishment in the Middle Ages, only being abolished in England in 1640. Torture reached its peak around the 12th century. From the mid-18th century it was the most common method used and was allowed by the Roman Catholic Church. Torture wasn’t exclusively for criminals, it was also used by the Knights Templar, a member of a religious and military order founded by Crusaders in Jerusalem about 1118 and suppressed in 1312; the Spanish inquisition to punish a person who speaks disrespectfully of sacred things, and liars. The well-known torture devices are the Head Crusher, Cat’s Paw (or Spanish Tickler), Knee Splitter, Scavenger’s Daughter, Judas Chair, Spanish Donkey, Choke Pear, Lead Sprinkler, Breast Ripper, and Crocodile Shears. With the Head Crusher the device was a helmet like hat they placed on top of the victims head and the chin was placed above a metal bar, then the device would slowly turn compressing the skull tightly. First the teeth are destroyed, shattering and splintering into the jaw. Then the eyes are squeezed from the sockets. Lastly the skull fractures and the contents of the head...
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...A man that had a lot of power, was brilliant, was the prince of a country at one time, and a mastermind of torture. All of these words are describing Vlad Dracula, otherwise known as Vlad the Impaler. [The middle ages have produced numerous legends and heroes that remain very much a part of our contemporary culture; one need only to refer to the Tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table or of the outlaw Robin Hood,…Amidst the struggle to halt the Ottoman onslaught in Southeastern Europe the historical figure of Vlad Dracula arose to become a legend in his own time] (Treptow, 2000, p.7). Vlad the Impaler or Dracula was a very smart man in a sick way. He once tried to use a “technique…[not used]…to impale the anus but rather some other part of the body, normally the back or the chest, the ribs being counted on to sustain the victim’s weight. [Vlad] seems to have abandoned them later in favor of inflicting a slower and more agonizing death” (Myles, 1988, p.103) Once he stuck with the way of impaling by going through the anus, he had a way “to prevent immediate and massive hemorrhaging he ordered that the stakes be rounded at the ends and greased, thus ensuring a gradual rupturing of the viscera over a much longer period”(p.103). “Day after day Vlad the third was more sinister or evil, he even “mutilated [his victims] in every conceivable manner: blinded, maimed, disemboweled, skinned alive, boiled in oil, burned, hanged, garroted, and roasted over slow fires. Occasionally...
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...HISTORY Name Class Date During the early Middle Ages, magic was seen as a science that was practical and required certain intensive study and skills. Magic was, therefore, part of the culture, and there were professional magicians who were found all over even in king’s courts. The magicians even could take apprentices. They were a significant part of the society. As the European society became more self-conscious and articulate, the notion that magic was a science began to fade and was linked with heresy and other negative thoughts like sorcery. The society came to reject the notion of safe and learned magic. There was even a purge to get rid of all magicians that were in England. If one were caught, practicing magic, spiritual and temporal punishments was accorded to them. The magician became to be treated and known as the latter day witches. The book looks into the complex that came from the transformation from the magician, to the witch and the various laws that came into effect during the Medieval times about the two. The book aids us in placing our understanding of medieval magic that was later known as witchcraft. Although heresy was part of the bad image that magic was furnished with hearsay, another was the long-standing Christian teachings that were about magic especially the learned magic that was rampant during the time. This led to later developments of magic turning into witchcraft. The earlier magic was tied to the culture and the way a people...
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...Medieval times because during the renaissance period people were not to concern with the church. The church was the reason the Christian world was divided into many religions. in the Medieval times, people were competing against each other because of their different beliefs about the church and God. On the other hand, renaissance stressed the significance of the individual and the individual talent. in addition, while medieval scholars had studied ancient Greek and roman documents to learn about god and Christianity, renaissance scholars studied them to discover more about human nature. Also renaissance art had more emotion and brighter colors. Artist also used perspectives and more oil paints. In the medieval times/middle ages, there was a lack of perspective and less emotion. In the renaissance period there was a more advanced technology. People had access to the printing press and other new inventions. Another thing I liked was that in the renaissance period most people got married because they were in love and not because someone else choose their partner as it was in medieval times. Another characteristic of the renaissance time I loved was, the fact that woman were being educated. Explain a reason why Native Americans were populated diminshed. The impact Europeans made when coming in contact with Americans were devastating. Take the Indians for example. Native Indians were populated diminished. One main one being the Indians contact...
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...Practice History Essay Power and stability in the Middle Ages were maintained through the hierarchical feudal social system, but it changed over time due to various factors. Birth of feudalism began in Europe from Charlemagne and William the Conqueror to England after the victory over King Harold Godwinson. This system was characterised into three large categories – the powerful, the spiritual and the powerless. The upper class were very powerful and had many privileges. A king controlled large areas of land and were able to give away the land for loyalty and protection. He “offered protection to the peasants…but he also exerted his power over them (Source D)”. William’s reign was long and stable, as he spread out his Norman lords so they could not rebel against him. The king also needed an army for protection and control over his land. As a result, he would pay nobles to provide knights for his legion. Nobles and knights required...
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... and torture methods were refined. However, one thing that did not change during the Middle Ages was food. While styles of food were influenced by outside forces, diets, beverages and celebrations did not undergo any change. A nobleman’s diet would have been incredibly different than that of a person lower down the social scale. The wealthy were often times provided with freshly killed meat and fish. However, meat was not always abundant, so they settled for whatever meat was available: usually fowl such as cranes and swan or fish and sea mammals. In addition to fresh meat, the nobility also had access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, all fruit and vegetables were...
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...Conversion therapy, otherwise known as psychological abuse, is the practice of actively attempting to change one’s sexuality and/or gender identity. This practice is based on the outdated idea that homosexuality is a mental illness/sin, and something that can be fixed. So far, nine states in America have banned the practice of conversion therapy for children under 18, however, that leaves 41 states that allow the torture of LGBT children. These states should follow their predecessors and enact legislation that bans this harmful practice for minors. Homosexuality is not a mental disorder. The American Psychology Association(APA) has clearly stated their position on homsexuality. The organization claims that “Research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology. Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality”. They go on to explain that despite the...
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...Kenny Anderson Political Science Prof. Hawn 10 October 2012 Government and Torture Means of torture have been used around the world for a number of years. At one point in time it had been terminated in the United States; however, after the events of September 11, 2001, it has come back as an acceptable way to acquire information from terrorists. Torture is, according to the United Nation Convention Against Torture in 1984: “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him, or a third person, information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or incidental to, lawful sanctions.” (OHCHR) This definition, regardless of any country's own rules, regulations and laws is obligatory to be carried out by all the countries. When someone is accused of being a culprit of torture, there are various credentials, which are modified to wartime situations when needed. In general to be a culprit, one must bring severe physical, mental pain or suffering upon the victim. In most scenarios...
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...Natural History”. While these types of museums house some incredible artifacts, and I do visit them often, I also like to seek out museums of a more unusual sort. Museums are mostly the same just about everywhere you go, both in the United States and Europe. They offer the visitor a glimpse into the past culture of any given city or country by displaying relics found throughout the world. But there are also many museums that showcase artifacts of the culture in a much more specific way. Some fine examples of these kinds of museums include the Pez Museum, close to San Francisco, dedicated to the little candy dispenser, the Muzeum hracek in Prague, dedicated to toys of the world, both past and present, the Dungeon, a history of Medieval torture, also in Prague, and the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, dedicated to all things Liberace--and I mean all things. The Pez Museum is not actually in San Francisco, but is located south of the city in a town called Burlingame. If you are in the Bay Area for any reason, do not miss this museum! Remember when you were a little kid, and you loved to collect Pez dispensers? Well, times have changed, and now Pez collections mean big money, and big business. The most expensive Pez dispenser to date is the short lived Mr. Potato Head dispenser, complete with a make-it-yourself face. This Pezsells for $5,000 at auction! This museum contains literally hundreds of Pez Dispensers, collected since their inception back in the Fifties. While Pez may not compare...
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...HistoryMain article: History of criminal justice The modern criminal justice system has evolved since ancient times, with new forms of punishment, added rights for offenders and victims, and policing reforms. These developments have reflected changing customs, political ideals, and economic conditions. In ancient times through the Middle Ages, exile was a common form of punishment. During the Middle Ages, payment to the victim (or the victim's family), known as wergild, was another common punishment, including for violent crimes. For those who could not afford to buy their way out of punishment, harsh penalties included various forms of corporal punishment. These included mutilation, branding, and flogging, as well as execution. Though a prison, Le Stinche, existed as early as the 14th century in Florence, Italy,[18] incarceration was not widely used until the 19th century. Correctional reform in the United States was first initiated by William Penn, towards the end of the 17th century. For a time, Pennsylvania's criminal code was revised to forbid torture and other forms of cruel punishment, with jails and prisons replacing corporal punishment. These reforms were reverted, upon Penn's death in 1718. Under pressure from a group of Quakers, these reforms were revived in Pennsylvania toward the end of the 18th century, and led to a marked drop in Pennsylvania's crime rate. Patrick Colquhoun, Henry Fielding and others led significant reforms during the late eighteenth and early...
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...The Lottery: Tradition and Cruelty Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" features a supposedly civilized village with barbaric traditions. At the beginning of the story, the townsfolk appear to be fairly civilized and seem to carry on modern lifestyles. This is assumed by the men at work and the children playing as if it were just an average day. The lottery was outdated to such a degree that some seen it as a cruel tradition no one could escape. On the other hand, some had believed that carrying on the tradition was necessary. Not long after "The Lottery" was published in The New Yorker, "a flood of mail - hundreds of letters-deluged both the editorial offices in New York and the post office in Bennington" (Friedman 63). Shirley Jackson said that out of all the letters sent, there were only thirteen that were positive responses, and those were from her friends (63). The letters consisted of "bewilderment, speculation, and old-fashioned abuse" (63). The public's initial reaction to the story was extremely negative. The fact that the tradition itself is scheduled for 10:00 and it took only two hours shows that there is no concern for the "winner" of the lottery, only for themselves. The villagers had a convenient amount of time so they were able to eat their lunch afterwards and continue their day. The children collected stones, competing against the other children, and tried to keep other friends from stealing rocks from their piles. This most definitely shows that the tradition...
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...Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages Benjamin Christensen is one of those filmmakers whose films pass by both unnoticed and underappreciated by the film critics of his time. Much like Stanley Kubrick and Carl Theodor Dreyer, Christensen’s work is only appreciated and acknowledged years after his death. This is the case with Haxan, a documentary/horror picture that both astonishes and intrigues both film veterans and a more contemporary audience. The film was released in 1922, the peak of the silent era. The film is based on the book Malleus Maleficarum that deals with the prosecution of witches, which in turn is translated to the screen with a more philosophical explanation added to the film. Christensen’s work revolutionized cinema’s view of cinematography, editing, and even narrative, which would then inspire filmmakers in the coming years after 1922. Haxan starts out as a documentary about the persecution of witches during the middle ages. The film is then divided into seven chapters with Christensen switching narrative styles in each chapter. Christensen goes as far as to switch to first person where he investigates the actors and the crew behind the scenes. Christensen then goes on to try out a torture mechanism on one of his actress after she insisted on trying it on. According to Christensen he recorded her confession, but he refused to add it to the final film. By the end of the film, Christensen then tries to provide a rational explanation to witchcraft. Moreover...
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...many countries have laws which address police brutality. Under these laws, police brutality is seen as a very serious offense and investigated by a commission of district attorneys. Unfortunately, even with the law covering police brutality, many complaints made by civilians about excessive use of force are not investigated. Researchers suggest that it happens because the police have the authority to use force when necessary, and, often, it is difficult to prove that police brutality has taken place. More police officers now constantly record all interactions with civilians. Later on the recorded conversations can be reviewed in the case of an investigation. Even though racial profiling still exists, anyone regardless of race, gender or age can become a victim of police brutality. If a person experienced police misconduct, he or she needs to write down the names of all witnesses of the accident, take pictures of his or her injuries and get a medical conclusion on the injuries from a medical professional. Also, it is a good idea to hire a police brutality attorney to help with the case. If a complaint was filed with the court, a person who was a victim of police brutality may be able to receive reimbursement for doctor’s fees, medical tests, lost wages and...
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...HAMMER The Witches Hammer (the Malleus Maleficarum) is an infamous document in history. According to Hatcliff in the Magical Circle School Resource Library Malleus Maleficarum is “Latin for Hammer of the Witches or Der Hexenhammer in German”. The main purpose of this document is to negate those that claimed that witchcraft did not exist. Another purpose of the Witches Hammer was to educate those in power on the ways to seek out, interrogate, convict, and torture alleged witches. Guiley in her book Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft discusses The Malleus Maleficarum as being an important document on witch hunting during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It was published first in Germany in 1486 then spread throughout Europe...
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...portrayal of Elizabeth Bathory’s crimes in popular culture. Countess Erzsébet Báthory, also known as Elizabeth Bathory, was a member of a powerful family from an estate at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, the Bathory family. She was born in 1560 to Baron George Bathory and Baroness Anne Bathory (“Blood Countess,” par.1). Elizabeth was raised on Ecsed, an estate in Transylvania. Elizabeth was not an easy child, nor was life easy for her, despite being a member of the privileged class. She was said to suffer from a brain disorder associated with increased aggression which could be due to inbreeding, which was very popular in royal families in order to keep wealth within the family (“Blood Countess,” par.2). She was married off at the age of 15 for political gain to soldier Ferencz Nadasdy and moved in to the castle Sarvar. Ferencz Nadasdy was not present much during their marriage due to commitments to war campaigns, which he was involved in (“Blood Countess,” par.1). Bathory was in charge of the house, making sure that...
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