Medieval Torture

Torture is defined by law as a serious physical affliction, regardless of punishment, confessing crimes, or forcing to testify in judicial proceedings. In the middle of ancient people, torture was used as a means to afflict and punish captured enemies. It involves the use of a means to force reluctant witnesses to provide evidence. In ancient Athens, slaves were always subject to torture, so their evidence was actually considered worth more than free people.

The term torture often associates images of medieval torture instruments such as brand irons and head screws. From the mid-14th century until the end of the 18th century, torture was an accepted practice in the military, justice system and even the church (Maran, 1989, p. Vii). Public opinion changed in the nineteenth century, but torture continued to occur. If the torture of the Nazi Jews in the Second World War becomes public perception, many international laws will be enforced to prevent the use of torture. However, although torture continues today, the use of torture is still widely condemned and details of torture are indiscriminate or derogatory, or justified by public opinion operations. So-called civilized countries may become a country of torture today due to poor human rights records in these countries (Kellaway, 2003, p. 34).

During the ancient and medieval times, torture was widely used to gain information from prisoners. The continental European countries have even enacted legal proceedings to use torture to obtain evidence of suspects. People in Europe ended this habit in the 18th century after half a century depending on torture. It is not because it was inconsistent with human dignity, because torture did not necessarily produce the necessary information. According to John Langbein, the basic lesson of experiencing torture in Europe is that it is impossible to make compulsion compatible with the truth.