1. Topic 2: Torture and Execution in the Middle Ages

2. Learning goals By the end of today’s lesson, students will be able to…
Determine how well the punishment fit the crime in the medieval world and early modern period
Understand the purpose of ‘show trials’ for public control
Assess the difference between killing people vs. killing ideas

3. Show trials
a public trial in which there is a strong connotation that the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt of the defendant

4. Why ‘show trials’?
During the Middle Ages (c.1100’s – 1500’s CE), punishment went beyond execution
Executions became public spectacles – all were welcomed and encouraged to attend (show trials)
Designed to be as terrifying and brutal as possible to deter crime
Reserved for most severe crimes

5. treason
the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its’ sovereign.

6. Braveheart, 1995 Hollywood movie depicting the life of William Wallace
Became a Scottish patriot fighting the English in a war of independence in the late 1200’s CE
Eventually captured and tried for treason by the English…

7. Freeeeeedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. Book burnings
What is the difference between killing people and killing ideas?
How might you kill an idea?
Book burnings:
During the middle ages, thousands of books not welcomed by the Catholic Church were burned
Martin Luther’s German Bible, John Wycliffe’s English Bible
Nazi Germany – books written by Jewish scholars burned in public

9. Your task Refer to your textbook pgs. 92-95
Read the information, and complete the handout ‘Punishment in Medieval Times’
Copy all definitions from this topic into your notebooks under the proper title ‘The Medieval and Early Modern Period’
Once finished, refer to your chart: ‘Torture and Execution Concept Chart’ – fill in the blanks for the first two topics in the text (Torture and Execution in Ancient World and Medieval Times)