Introduction
Have you ever wandered how crime and punishment changed through the ages? In this text, I will be explaining all about crime and punishment from Roman times to ww2. Crime and punishments have always been a thing however the most common crime has always been theft. For the crimes you committed you would always face punishment. For example ; for consistent theft in Roman times you would be flogged (whipped).
crime and punishment in Roman times
The romans lived from 500bc to 400ad , the empire ruled most of the world. Rome became very overcrowded as they enslaved many people (and countries). The most common of all crimes were murder and theft. The punishments were flogging for theft and execution for murder. They had no police so they used the community to take care of criminals. The name of these people were vigiles they would be police , firemen and they would decide punishments.More serious crimes would lead to more serious punishments like if you kill they would kill you. Many travellers come to Rome to get richer. As a result , Rome had very dark and dangerous streets. The richer people and emperors would use poor people (vigiles) to protect everyone.
Anglo Saxon crime and punishment
During Anglo Saxon times, theft once was a fine more than once is having your hands cut off. Since they didn’t have a police force the community would bring in the criminals they would not be the people that decide the punishment. If someone stole from you you could just kill them. If no one could decide whether you were innocent or guilty you would do trial by ordeal which is when god decides if you are innocent or guilty most punishments were trial by ordeal because they were very religious. They were very cruel with there punishments because if you stole and can’t pay you would be thrown off of a cliff. The most common crime was theft.
Tudor crime and punishment
The Tudors had many ways to execute you such as beheading , hanging and many more. If you were caught drunk in public you were put in the drunkards cloak (a big barrel for beer). If women gossip they have to were the scolds bridle which will hold back your young so you don’t gossip. The most common crime was gossip. The scolds bridle is only for women as they were only punished for gossip. They believed if they punished you enough you would stop committing crimes.
Victorian crime and punishment
In Victorian times they finally got police and jail. The prison was in Australia and the whole time you were there you would be forced to do manual work. If it was a crime like theft you would pay a fine, which was 4 times the amount you stole. This was because theft was still the most common crime committed. And if you committed treason you were hung (treason means you talk bad about the king). The Victorian era lived from 1837 to 1901. The Victorians introduced the police force in 1829 and was first brought to London.
ww2 crime and punishment
Looting was the most common crime because many people had to feed there families. They did have a police force but not many people were in it. If you were caught selling on the black market you would be given a fine if you didn’t pay then you were put in prison. The number of murders increased so much and if you killed you were killed as well. At night there was no light so crime was easier to get away with it. Looting and theft was much more common due to the lights always being out and the police was always deeling with the war and criminals.
