History of Punishment

The history of punishment began around the time of when the Code of Hammurabi was written. The death penalty was awarded for crimes of kidnapping, thievery, selling or taking stolen goods, etc.

There are many punishments that were used in the world which have been abolished. For example, many nations have abolished capital punishment which follows all around anything dealing with the death penalty. Michigan was the first state to abolish the death penalty later followed by Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

In the 2nd century during the Qin Dynasty of China rules were changed by enforcing strict laws. For punishment they used the nine familial extermination as punishment. The nine familial extermination was one of the most brutal and cruelest execution method used in China. It was basically when nine people from the accused’s family were executed.

By the end of the 2nd century tenants of Jewish laws had 3 purposes. One of them was to make sure the criminal was punished for his actions. Punishments such as banishment, fines and imprisonment were given at this time. In the third century a punishment called Damnatio ad bestias was further introduced. Damnatio bestias was a punishment used for entertainment.

In the 5th century the Roman law of the Twelve Tables contained the death penalty. Most people were executed by hanging or beheading for crimes against the church.

Crucifixion was a punishment used in 6th century BCE, but was later abolished in the Roman Empire in 337 CE. It was when your arms were tied or nailed to a cross while the cross was tied and nailed to a pole. The person’s feet were a block of wood so their hands wouldn’t tear. Their feet were nailed to the cross. This is also known as Jesus Christ’s death.

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... circumstances in 1998.

Moving on to the 21st century, in 2001 there were 3048 prisoners executed in 31 countries. Most of them took place in Iran, Saudi Arabia, U.S. and China. China executes more people than any other country on Earth. In 2004, the death penalty was restored as a punishment. Later in the U.S. the death penalty support which was at 65% used to be at 74%. Also, it is said that 51% believe the death penalty isn’t used often enough.

The history of punishment has been changed many times throughout the centuries. Capital punishment is trying to be banished today. Cruel and illegal executions are still going on just to get confessions before sentences were passed.

Works Cited

• http://www.wcprg.org/History.pdf

• http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/timeline.htm

• http://www.smashinglists.com/unusual-methods-of-capital-punishment/2/