Transcript Medieval Torture

Medieval Torture
Medieval Torture
► Torture
was used during the Middle Ages for
three reasons:
► To force confessions or secret
information from those accused
► To discourage dissent and intellectual
freedom
► To persuade Jews, Muslims, and other
non-believers to accept Christianity
Whirligig
►Spinning
Cage
►Primarily used for
military
punishment
Wooden Wedges
► Used
to force
confessions
► Forced underneath
toenails and fingernails
► Other tortures used
with the wedges when
this was not enough to
force confession
Scissors
► Used
to slice tongue
after victims mouth
was forced open
The Copper Boot
► Place
around victims
foot
► Filled with molten lead
The Sprinkler
► Filled
with molten
metal
► Dripped on body
of the victim
Water Torture
► Victims
nostrils
pinched shut
► Fluid poured down
throat
The Thumbscrew
► Placed
on thumb and
tightened until bone is
crushed
Iron Maiden
► Iron
Maiden
► Spikes in the Iron
Maiden were
strategically located
to avoid major
organs, thereby
prolonging the
inevitable death of
the accused.
► Small Box
The Spanish Donkey
► Victim
placed on top
► Weights tied on legs
The Foot Press
► Press
slowly squeezed
the naked foot
between the iron
plates
► Crushed bones
The Head Crusher
► Victims
head placed
inside clamp
► Tightened until it
cracked the skull
The Scottish Boot
► Boot
placed around
ankle
► Wedges then forced
into the ankle
The Masks and Branks
The Chastity Belt
► Used
to prevent
infidelity and
encourage women to
be faithful
► Used to prevent
women from being
raped
The Garrotte
►
►
►
Iron collar with iron rod being tightened from behind
Victim died from asphyxiation and because spinal cord was
being crushed
Used in Spain until 1975
Inquisitional Chair
•Spikes cover back, armrest,
and seat
•Victim strapped around waist,
wrist, and chest
•Used up until the 19th Century
The Rack
►
►
Stretched victim
until bones and
joints were pulled
apart
If victim did not
die they were
often so injured
they could not
take part in a
confession
Cat`s Paw or Spanish
Tickler
•Used to rip victims flesh
from the bone
•Victims tied up by hands and feet
The Wheel
•One of the most painful and common acts of torture
•Victim tied down with limbs spread
•Cross pieces placed under joints and limbs and then smashed
with iron-tyred edge of the wheel
The Heretic`s Fork
►
►
Forks penetrated the skin under the chin
and over the chest
Forks did not penetrate into vital points,
prolonging suffering before death
The Saw
►
►
Inflicted for a variety of crimes
including witchcraft, rebellion, and
military disobedience.
Victim inverted to slow down
general loss of blood so he did not
loose consciousness at once, and
could endure longer suffering.
Juda`s Cradle
►
►
►
Hung by iron belt surrounding
upper waist
Bound hand and foot
Used in multiple ways
The Guillotine
Brazen Bull
► Victims
slowly burned
to death
Rat Torture
► Rats
used to eat away
at the victim’s body.
► Would put rat under a
bowl and then heat it.
► Rat
would end up
eating through the
victim trying to escape
Pear of Anguish
► Used
to get a
confession or to cause
miscarriages of a
woman who cheated
on her husband.
► Was slowly opened up
Foot Roasting
► They
would put the
victim’s legs in the foot
stocks and put hot
coals underneath or
light a fire.
► It would burn the legs
to the bone
Pillory Torture
► Used
to embarrass
victims
► Stuff
could be thrown
at them
► They
would be beaten
or whipped
Crocodile Tube
► Put
into a coffin like case with spikes like
crocodile teeth.
► They would put fire under the tube and
heat it up but also close the tube in more
and more on the victim’s body
Used on thieves
The Spanish Spider
► Used
to mutilate a
woman’s chest
Flaying Torture
►
Slowly with a small knife
they will skin the victim
►
Started with the face and
only did a little at a time.
►
They would leave the
victim then come back
later and do a little more.
Boiling Pot
► Used
alive
to boil the victim
Public Torture
► Used
to embarrass the
victim out in public
Brain Page
► According
to the basic definition of
civilization, are the Middle Ages civilized?
Why or Why not?
► What has the word civilized come to mean?
Brain Page
► How
do torture and religion relate? Why would a
simple, uneducated peasant enjoy watching
someone getting tortured? (think religiously)
Brain Page
► Answer
the following question in your notebook
► How/Why have we, as a world and society,
gone from one that uses torture devices to one
like today—that, in America stresses humanity?
What events, inventions, etc.. have occurred to
help us get where we are today? Is this
progress? Why do you think some countries
still use torture today? Should Torture be aloud
during times of war?