Medieval Medieval TortureTorture

Medieval TortureMedieval Torture

►Torture was used during the Middle Torture was used during the Middle Ages for three reasons:Ages for three reasons:

►To force confessions or secret To force confessions or secret information from those accused information from those accused

►To discourage dissent and To discourage dissent and intellectual freedom intellectual freedom

►To persuade Jews, Muslims, and To persuade Jews, Muslims, and other non-believers to accept other non-believers to accept ChristianityChristianity

WhirligigWhirligig

►Spinning CageSpinning Cage►Primarily used Primarily used

for military for military punishment punishment

WoodenWooden WedgesWedges

► Used to force Used to force confessionsconfessions

► Forced underneath Forced underneath toenails and toenails and fingernailsfingernails

►Other tortures used Other tortures used with the wedges when with the wedges when this was not enough this was not enough to force confessionto force confession

ScissorsScissors

► Used to slice tongue Used to slice tongue after victims mouth after victims mouth was forced openwas forced open

The Copper BootThe Copper Boot

► Place around Place around victims footvictims foot

► Filled with molten Filled with molten leadlead

The SprinklerThe Sprinkler

► Filled with Filled with molten metalmolten metal

►Dripped on Dripped on body of the body of the victimvictim

Water TortureWater Torture

► Victims nostrils Victims nostrils pinched shutpinched shut

► Fluid poured down Fluid poured down throatthroat

The ThumbscrewThe Thumbscrew

► Placed on thumb Placed on thumb and tightened until and tightened until bone is crushedbone is crushed

Iron MaidenIron Maiden

► Iron MaidenIron Maiden► Spikes in the Iron Spikes in the Iron

Maiden were Maiden were strategically strategically located to avoid located to avoid major organs, major organs, thereby thereby prolonging the prolonging the inevitable death inevitable death of the accused.of the accused.

► Small BoxSmall Box

The Spanish The Spanish DonkeyDonkey

► Victim placed on topVictim placed on top►Weights tied on legsWeights tied on legs

The Foot PressThe Foot Press

► Press slowly Press slowly squeezed the naked squeezed the naked foot between the foot between the iron platesiron plates

► Crushed bonesCrushed bones

The Head CrusherThe Head Crusher

► Victims head placed Victims head placed inside clampinside clamp

► Tightened until it Tightened until it cracked the skull cracked the skull

The Scottish BootThe Scottish Boot

► Boot placed around Boot placed around ankleankle

►Wedges then forced Wedges then forced into the ankleinto the ankle

The Masks and BranksThe Masks and Branks

The Chastity BeltThe Chastity Belt

► Used to prevent Used to prevent infidelity and infidelity and encourage women encourage women to be faithfulto be faithful

► Used to prevent Used to prevent women from being women from being rapedraped

The GarrotteThe Garrotte

► Iron collar with iron rod being tightened from behindIron collar with iron rod being tightened from behind► Victim died from asphyxiation and because spinal Victim died from asphyxiation and because spinal

cord was being crushedcord was being crushed► Used in Spain until 1975Used in Spain until 1975

Inquisitional ChairInquisitional Chair

•Spikes cover back, armrest, and seat•Victim strapped around waist,wrist, and chest•Used up until the 19th Century

The RackThe Rack► Stretched victim Stretched victim

until bones and until bones and joints were joints were pulled apartpulled apart

► If victim did not If victim did not die they were die they were often so injured often so injured they could not they could not take part in a take part in a confessionconfession

Cat`s Paw or Spanish Cat`s Paw or Spanish Tickler Tickler

•Used to rip victims fleshfrom the bone•Victims tied up by hands and feet

The WheelThe 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 smashedwith iron-tyred edge of the wheel

The Heretic`s ForkThe Heretic`s Fork

► Forks penetrated the skin under Forks penetrated the skin under the chin and over the chestthe chin and over the chest

► Forks did not penetrate into vital Forks did not penetrate into vital points, prolonging suffering before points, prolonging suffering before deathdeath

The SawThe Saw

► Inflicted for a variety of crimes Inflicted for a variety of crimes including witchcraft, rebellion, including witchcraft, rebellion, and military disobedience.and military disobedience.

► Victim inverted to slow down Victim inverted to slow down general loss of blood so he did general loss of blood so he did not loose consciousness at once, not loose consciousness at once, and could endure longer and could endure longer suffering.suffering.

Juda`s CradleJuda`s Cradle

► Hung by iron belt surrounding Hung by iron belt surrounding upper waistupper waist

► Bound hand and footBound hand and foot► Used in multiple waysUsed in multiple ways

The GuillotineThe Guillotine

Brazen BullBrazen Bull

► Victims slowly Victims slowly burned to deathburned to death

Rat TortureRat Torture

► Rats used to eat Rats used to eat away at the victim’s away at the victim’s body. body.

►Would put rat under a Would put rat under a bowl and then heat it. bowl and then heat it.

► Rat would end up Rat would end up eating through the eating through the victim trying to victim trying to escapeescape

Pear of AnguishPear of Anguish

► Used to get a Used to get a confession or to confession or to cause miscarriages cause miscarriages of a woman who of a woman who cheated on her cheated on her husband.husband.

►Was slowly opened Was slowly opened upup

Foot RoastingFoot Roasting

► They would put the They would put the victim’s legs in the victim’s legs in the foot stocks and put foot stocks and put hot coals hot coals underneath or light underneath or light a fire.a fire.

► It would burn the It would burn the legs to the bonelegs to the bone

Pillory TorturePillory Torture

► Used to embarrass Used to embarrass victimsvictims

► Stuff could be Stuff could be thrown at themthrown at them

► They would be They would be beaten or whippedbeaten or whipped

Crocodile TubeCrocodile Tube

►Put into a coffin like case with spikes Put into a coffin like case with spikes like crocodile teeth.like crocodile teeth.

►They would put fire under the tube and They would put fire under the tube and heat it up but also close the tube in heat it up but also close the tube in more and more on the victim’s bodymore and more on the victim’s body

Used on thievesUsed on thieves

The Spanish SpiderThe Spanish Spider

► Used to mutilate a Used to mutilate a woman’s chestwoman’s chest

Flaying TortureFlaying Torture

► Slowly with a small knife Slowly with a small knife they will skin the victimthey will skin the victim

► Started with the face Started with the face and only did a little at a and only did a little at a time.time.

► They would leave the They would leave the victim then come back victim then come back later and do a little later and do a little more.more.

Boiling PotBoiling Pot

► Used to boil the Used to boil the victim alivevictim alive

Public TorturePublic Torture

► Used to embarrass Used to embarrass the victim out in the victim out in publicpublic

Brain PageBrain Page►According to the basic definition of According to the basic definition of

civilization, are the Middle Ages civilization, are the Middle Ages civilized? Why or Why not?civilized? Why or Why not?

►What has the word civilized come to What has the word civilized come to mean?mean?

Brain PageBrain Page►How do torture and religion relate? Why How do torture and religion relate? Why

would a simple, uneducated peasant enjoy would a simple, uneducated peasant enjoy watching someone getting tortured? (think watching someone getting tortured? (think religiously)religiously)

Brain PageBrain Page

► Answer the following question in your Answer the following question in your notebook notebook

► How/Why have we, as a world and society, How/Why have we, as a world and society, gone from one that uses torture devices to gone from one that uses torture devices to one like today—that, in America stresses one like today—that, in America stresses humanity? What events, inventions, etc.. humanity? What events, inventions, etc.. have occurred to help us get where we are have occurred to help us get where we are today? Is this progress? Why do you think today? Is this progress? Why do you think some countries still use torture today? Should some countries still use torture today? Should Torture be aloud during times of war?Torture be aloud during times of war?