Crime and Punishment Flashcards
Was punishment in the Middle Ages public or private?
Public
What were the most serious crimes in the Middle Ages?
Murder, witchcraft and treason
What was the law of the Catholic Church called in the Middle Ages?
Canon Law
What was the most serious crime against the church?
Heresy. This means going against the teachings of the church.
What is trial by Compurgation?
Swearing an oath
What is trial by combat?
A champion represented someone accused of a crime and fought in their place.
What was trial by ordeal?
Placing a hand in a pot of boiling water OR picking up a piece of red hot iron OR holding an arm over fire. If the burn healed in three days the person accused was innocent of the crime.
What is trial by jury?
12 men were chosen to decide disputes over land.
What happened to people suspected of being witches?
They were hanged or burnt at the stake.
How could a woman avoid punishment?
By becoming pregnant.
What is Sanctuary?
When a person went to a church for protection. They could stay for 40 days and then had to admit the did something wrong. They then had to leave the country with no money, carrying a white cross.
What do you call an act of disloyalty to the King or murdering someone who was a noble or Royal or being a traitor?
Treason
What is punishment that causes physical pain called?
Torture
What is an example of torture?
Cutting off a person’s ear.
