Crime and Punishment 1000-Present

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Contents

Topic Page numbers

Tick when

completeThe Middle Ages (Medieval Period) 1000-1500

Middle Ages Knowledge Organiser 3Middle Ages Knowledge Organiser; blank for look cover write check 4

Early Middle Ages knowledge and tasks on crime, catching criminals & punishment

5 – 8

Later Middle Ages Knowledge and tasks on crime, catching criminals & punishment

9–14

Middle Ages exam questions (4, 12 and 16 mark) 15

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Early middle Ages - Crime

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Nobles Knights King Peasants

2. Anglo Saxon England was between 1000 and 1066 in the Middle Ages. What is the Latin word meaning Middle Ages?

3. In Anglo Saxon England most people were: (circle or tick)• Nobles• Knights• Peasants

4. This meant the job they did every day was:• Fighting in the army• Farming• Being a priest

5. Who was in charge of making laws in Anglo- Saxon England?

6. What was important to Anglo Saxon people and was protected by the toughest laws?

7. What was the most common crime in this period?

Early Middle Ages – Catching Criminals

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Complete the questions below …

1. Put these sections of society in order of importance. 1 = most important 4 = least important.

Law Enforcement = Catching Criminals

Hue and Cry: If a crime was committed the victim or witness was expected to raise the ‘hue and cry’. This meant calling for help to chase a criminal simply by shouting out. This was called “raising the hue and cry” – calling out for help. Everyone nearby was then supposed to join in the chase. If they did not make an effort then the whole village was held responsible for the crime and would pay a fine to the victim.

Tithing: The Anglo Saxons did not have a police force. Law enforcement was based around the local community. Every male over the age of 12 had to belong to a group of 10 men called a tithing. These ten men were responsible for the behaviour of each other. If one of them broke the law, the others had to tell on the criminal. If they did not report the crime, they would all be held responsible. This usually meant paying a fine to the victim

Factors: explaining method of law enforcementSociety – Most people were peasants living in villages and knew everyone in their village. There was no police force. So the local community was responsible for catching criminals

Key IndividualsNone!: The whole community was responsible for catching criminals

TASK: 1. Put these events in chronological order 1 to 6

A witness raises the ‘hue and cry’ The criminal is put on trial by jury

The jury cannot decide it the criminal is guilty or innocent

A man steals a sheep

The criminal is given another trial. This time trial by ordeal.

The tithing of the criminal chases the thief and catches him!

2. What would the ‘hue and cry’ have sounded like?

3. What was a tithing?

4. Describe a trial by jury

5. What were the four types of trial by ordeal? i)ii)iii)iv)

6. When would a trial by ordeal be used?

6. Choose one type of trial by ordeal. Describe how the trial; decided guilt or innocence.

7. Which factor explains trial by ordeal?

Law Enforcement Factors

Role of local communities Increased population

Government spending New technology

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TrialsFirst Type of Trial - Trial by jury: This relied on the local community. The jury (the people making the judgement) was made up of men from the village who knew both the accuser and the accused. The victim, the criminal and witnesses would both give their version of events and it was then up to the jury to decide who was telling the truth. If there was no clear evidence such as an eyewitness to the crime, the jury would decide the guilt or the innocence based on their knowledge of the people involved. If the jury felt the victim was more honest than the criminal, they would swear an oath that the criminal was guilty.

Trial 2 – Trial by ordeal: The Saxons were a religious society. If the local jury couldn’t decide if someone was guilty or innocent then they turned to trial by ordeal in the hope that God would help them. Trial by hot iron: Usually taken by women. The accused would pick up a hot weight and walked 3 paces. The hand was bandaged and unwrapped 3 days later. If the wound was healed they were innocent if it was festering they were guilty. Trial by blessed bread: Taken by priests. A priest prayed that the accused would choke on the bread if they lied. The accused ate the bread and was found guilty if they choked. Trial by cold water: Usually taken by men. The accused was tied with a knot above the waist and lowered into water. If the accused sank below Gods ‘pure’ water then he was judged innocent. I the accused floated then he had been rejected and was guilty. Trial by hot water: Usually taken by men. The accused out their hand into boiling water to pick up an object. The hand was bandaged and unwrapped 3 days later. If the wound was healed they were innocent if it was festering they were guilty.

Factors: explaining type of trialSociety –Trial by jury, the local community was responsible for deciding innocence or guiltReligious Ideas: when the jury could not decide Saxons left the decision to ‘God’ with trial by ordeal.

Key IndividualsNone!: The whole community was responsible for catching criminals

Early Middle Ages – Punishment

TASK; Punishment questions

1. Describe Wergild

2. Give an example of Wergild

3. What factor explains Wergild? Why?The factor that explain this is……Because….

4. Describe mutilation.

5. Give an example of mutilation

6. What factor explains mutilation ? Why?The factor that explain this is……Because….

7. Describe humiliation punishments

Punishment factors

Purpose of punishment: deterrence, retribution or reform? Social change

Fear of Crime Role of individuals

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PunishmentWergild: Wergild was compensation paid to the victim of crime or to their families. The King worked out how much should be fined dependent on the crime. Wergild was used to punish theft (first offence), assault and even murder. The idea behind Wergild to stop victims taking ‘retribution’, taking revenge against violent criminals. . It was designed to make sure the victim was fairly compensated. Examples: eye knocked out 50 shillings. Ear cut off 12 shillings.

Mutilation: was a serious physical punishment. The criminal’s body or face was deliberately damaged or removed. The most common Anglo Saxon mutilation was chopping off a criminal’s hand. Sometimes eyes were put or, the skin was branded (deliberately burnt) or in extreme cases castration was used.Mutilation was used for repeat offences of theft. The idea was to punish a repeat offender more seriously and to deter (frighten) people from committing similar crimes.

Humiliation: the stocks and pillory: Humiliation punishments like the stocks and pillory were minor physical punishment. The criminals were locked into the wooden stocks or pillory for a whole day. Local people would come to laugh at the criminals. Sometimes people threw rotten food, mud and excrement (poo) at the criminals. Mutilation was used minor crimes like rudeness, swearing and drunkenness. The idea was to embarrass the criminal in front of the whole village. This would deter the criminal and other villagers from committing the crime.

Factors : explaining type of punishment Ideas about punishment – The idea behind mutilation and humiliation punishments is that it would deter (discourage) criminals from re offending. Also to deter the rest of the watching villagers. The idea behind wergild was to fairly compensate the victim and to prevent revenge attacks.

Later Middle Ages – Normans - Crime

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CrimePetty theft- 75% of all crime was theft of small items e.g. foodMurder - Murder was not common. Most victims were murdered by someone they knew.Drunk and disorderly behaviour- People were more likely to be rude to each other and fight when theyhad been drinking.Treason – Some Saxons rebelled against William including Hereward the Wake in Norfolk. The biggest rebellion was in the north of England in 1069. It was led by Edgar Atheling. William defeated the rebellion. To punish the rebellion he ordered villages to be destroyed and people to be killed. Herds of animals and crops were burnt. Many people who survived starved to death and some turned to cannibalism. This was called the Harrying of the North. Rebelling against a monarch is the crime of treason.Poaching – The Forest Law made all forests the property of the King. Anyone hunting in them without a royal license was committing the crime of poaching. This meant that peasants could no longer hunt deer and boar in the forests. They had been allowed to do this when Anglo Saxon Kings ruled. King William’s Forest Laws made peasants very angry.

Factors – explaining crimePoverty - Most of the population were peasants and very poor. They stole small valuable items and livestock (farm animals). Peasants used to be able to hunt in the forests to get extra food but now if they did this they were committing the crime of poaching.Political change: When William became king the Saxons rebelled and committed treason. He made laws that created new crimes e.g. the Forest Law

Key IndividualsWilliam the Conqueror: By invading and becoming King William caused Saxons to rebel and he was in the position to make new laws

Turning PointsBattle of Hastings: winning this battle meant William became King. If he had lost there would be no harrying of the North or Forest Law.

TASK; Norman Crime Questions

1. In what year did William the Conqueror invade England?

2. Where were the Normans from?

3. Which battle did William the Conqueror win which meant he could became King of England?

4.When William became King of England there were many rebellions. Where did the largest rebellion happen?

5. What crime were the rebels committing?

6. What factor explains this crime? Why?The factor that explains this is……Because….

7. What was the name given to William’s cruel response to the rebellion

8. Give two examples of it’s cruelty.1.2.

9. The Forest Law meant that all the trees and animals in forest belonged to whom?

10. Which new crime did the Forest Law create?

11. What factor explains this crime? Why?The factor that explains this is……Because….

Crime Factors

Religious ideas Increased taxation

Poverty New technology

Political change Increased movement of people

Increased population

TASK: Outlaws Questions

1. Define an outlaw:

2. What crime did the Folville gang commit to become outlaws?

3. What factor explains this crime? Why?The factor that explains this is……Because….

4. What other crimes did the Folville Gang Commit?

5. Why were churches targeted by gangs?

6. What factor explains this crime? Why?The factor that explains this is……Because….

7. Give two examples of violence used by outlaws:

12. ‘Outlaws were loyal to each other’- true or false?

13. Select an example and describe how it proves your answer.

Crime Case Study: Outlaws

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Later Middle Ages – Normans – Catching Criminals

Trials and Punishment in the later Middle Ages 1100-1500 – A TRUE story from Norfolk in the 1300sJohn the Shepherds house looked empty. Roger Ryet looked through the open door and saw cloth on a bench. ‘Nice piece of cloth’ thought Roger. He walked off, hopeful he would find work on the Lord’s land that day.

But Roger didn’t find work. By the time he arrived others had already been chosen to work on the Lord’s land. Roger separately needed money. His small piece of land did not produce enough food to live on. When Roger walked back past John the Shepherd’s house again, the door was still open and the cloth was still there. No one was around. Roger grabbed the cloth and ran.

‘Thief’ shouted a man’s voice. The man blocked Roger’s path. Roger had to get past, he had to get away. In one hand Roger held the cloth, in the other his knife. He rushed forwards desperate to escape…….seconds later John the Shepherd lay dead. His wife Isabel knelt screaming by his side.

Catching Roger Ryet:

The hue and cry:Roger had stolen cloth and stabbed John the Shepherd to death in front of John’s wife. Isabel’s shouts would have raised the hue and cry. Rogers tithing would have had to chance him.

The constable:The hue and cry would be led by the local Constable. Constables were first appointed in 1250. They were not proper policemen and were not paid. In towns constables were helped by the watch. These were volunteers who kept a lookout for criminals. A response to growing towns and villages

The sheriff and the posse:If Roger was not caught by the hue and cry it was the job of the sheriff to raise a posse of men to track Roger down. The Sherriff was paid and was a response to the fear that crime was increasing.

The coronerJohn the Shepherd’s death would be reported to the county coroner. The job of coroner was created by the King in 1190. The coroner decided if the accused should stand trial

SanctuaryRoger might have tried to run for sanctuary. Sanctuary were safe areas in churches. Once a criminal reached a

sanctuary the sheriff could not arrest him. In 1497 a thief called Coulson escaped from prison and hammered on the Durham cathedral sanctuary knocker. Two watchmen let Coulson in and rang a bell to let everyone know that

someone had claimed sanctuary. Once in sanctuary Coulson had 40 days to decide to stand trial or leave the country. He chose to leave the country. On his way to the coast to catch a ship he carry a white cross to show he

was a sanctuary man.

Roger Ryet’s trial: We don’t know how Roger Ryet was caught but he was! Types of court:

Royal courts:Royal judges visited each county 3 times a year for the most serious cases. Henry II created these in 1160

Quarter sessions:From 1363, nobles were judges in their counties. They were called Justices of the Peace (JP’s). They met four times a year so were called Quarter Sessions.

Manor courts: Every Lord held a local court with a jury where they were judge and heard about local crimes such as people not working hard enough. Trial by ordeal had been abolished! This happened in 1215 because the church was against it.

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TASK: catching criminals questions

1. Which two methods of law enforcement continued in the later middle Ages from Saxon England?

2. Why did they continue?

3. List the two new methods of law enforcement

4. What factor explains these new methods? Why?The factor that explains this is……Because….

5 ‘In the Later Middle Ages local communities were still the most important part of law enforcement’. True or false?

6 Select an example and describe how it proves your answer.

7. Describe the job of the coroner

9. Which type of trial continued from Saxon England?

10. Which two new courts were created?

11. Which of these new courts was for the most serious crimes?

12. What type of trial was abolished?

Law Enforcement Factors

Role of local communities

Government spending

Increased population

New technology

Later Middle Ages – Normans – Punishment

Benefit of clergy:If you were a priest the King’s court could not punish you. Priests were handed over to the local Bishop and the church did not execute people. It used mutilation as a punishment instead. To prove you were a priest you had to recite a passage from the Bible.Oh loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity on my transgressions. This meant you avoided death and became known as the ‘neck verse’ as it saved your neck from being hanged.Join the army:If there was a war on criminals would not be executed if they promised to join the armyBuy a pardon (pardon=the king’s forgiveness)Rich people could buy pardons because kings usually needed cash.Be pregnant:Women who said they were pregnant could not be hanged. If they were found to be telling the truth they were sometimes given lesser punishments such as a fine.

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Be a King’s Approver :This meant giving evidence that would convict other criminals

Other punishments 1300-1500

Pillory: This was a wooden block that trapped your head and your hands. It was used to punish crimes such as cheating at cards and selling rotten food.

Stocks: This was a wooden block that trapped legs. It was used to punish people who could not pay fines and for drunkenness.

Ducking stool: This was a chair that was ducked in the pond or river. It punished scolds. These were women who nagged or argued with their husbands

Carting: carting meant being paraded round the streets in a cart and was used to punish vagrancy and adultery

Whipping: Usually took place on market day. Whipping was used for a wide variety of crimes. Thieves who had stolen less than a shilling were whipped, persistent drunkards and people who didn’t attend church were whipped. On one occasion in London one man was whipped for stealing a cabbage.

Fines: many minor offences such as swearing and gambling were punished by fines.

Punishment factors

Purpose of punishment: deterrence, retribution or reform? Social change

Fear of Crime Role of individuals

TASK: Middle Ages questions

1.What was benefit of clergy?

2.What was the Neck Verse?

2. What factor explains this method of avoiding execution? Why?The factor that explains this is……Because….

3.. List the four other ways the death penalty could be avoided.

4. Describe one method you've listed.

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5. List punishments continued from the Anglo-Saxon period.

6. List new punishments in the later Middle Ages

7. Describe one punishment you've listed

8. List the punishment that changed.

9. Describe how it changed

10. Were later Middle Ages punishments designed to be fair or to deter criminals?

11. What factor explains this role of punishment? Why?The factor that explains this is……Because….

Topic 1 Anglo Saxon Crime, law enforcement and punishment ; Look, cover write check on blank knowledge organiserTopic 1 Anglos Saxon; Crime, law enforcement and punishment multiple choice quiz (repeat till 100% correct)Topic 1 Anglo Saxon Crime, law enforcement and punishment ; free recall quiz (repeat till 100% correct)Topic 1 Norman Crime, law enforcement and punishment ; Look, cover write check on blank knowledge organiserTopic 1 Norman; Crime, law enforcement and punishment multiple choice quiz (repeat till 100% correct)Topic 1 Norman Crime, law enforcement and punishment ; free recall quiz (repeat till 100% correct)

QUSETION Tasks:4 marks Tick when

completeExplain one way in which crime in the Anglo Saxons period was different to crime in the Norman periodExplain one way in which crime the Anglo Saxons period was similar to crime in the Norman period

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KNOWLEDGE Tasks: Tick when complete

Explain one way in which Law enforcement continued from the Anglo Saxons period to the Norman periodExplain one way in which punishment continued from the Anglo Saxons period to the Norman periodExplain one way in which punishment in the Anglo Saxons period was different to punishment in the Norman period

12 marks Tick when complete

Explain why crime changed c.1000 to c.1500.You may use the following in your answer;

Poaching Treason

You must also use information of your own.

16 marks Tick when complete

The role of local communities was the most important factor affecting law enforcement during the Middle Ages.’How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer:

• tithings• trial by ordeal

You must also use information of your own.

The main purpose of punishment during the period c1000–c1500 was to deter people from committing crimes.’How far do you agree? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer:

• Wergild• stocks

You must also use information of your own.

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