By Tim Lambert Early Hanging Hanging was the most common method of execution in England from the Anglo-Saxon Era until the 20th century. At first, the prisoner was made to stand on a ladder that was pulled away or on a cart that was moved. From the 18th century, he stood on a trapdoor. Sometimes… Continue reading A History of Hanging
Category: Articles of the key ‘dark’ historical events across the world
A History of Highwaymen
By Tim Lambert The idea of robbing people while they travel along roads is a very old one. In the Middle Ages, there were plenty of outlaws ready to rob travelers. However, the ‘golden age’ of highwaymen was the 17th century and 18th centuries. At that time trade and commerce were increasing and there were… Continue reading A History of Highwaymen
A History of Pirates
By Tim Lambert A pirate is a person who robs ships. The idea is not new! There have been pirates since ancient times. After 800 BC a people called the Phoenicians from what is now Lebanon had many merchant ships carrying valuable cargoes across the Mediterranean. As they sailed near the Adriatic Sea and the Aegean Sea… Continue reading A History of Pirates
A History of Prisons
By Tim Lambert Early Prisons Before the 18th century prisons were not commonly used as a punishment. Instead, people were often held in prisons until their trial. The sentence was usually execution or some form of corporal punishment. Early prisons for ordinary people were very dirty and extremely overcrowded. Diseases were rife and being sent… Continue reading A History of Prisons
A History of Punishments
By Tim Lambert Banishment Since Ancient Times forcing an offender to leave his home and go abroad or to another region either permanently or for a fixed period has been used as a punishment. Bastinado Bastinado was beating a person on the soles of their feet with a stick. Because the soles of the feet… Continue reading A History of Punishments
A History of Slavery
By Tim Lambert Slavery in the Ancient World Slavery is the ownership of one human being by another. It has existed throughout history in many cultures and is not extinct today. In the distant past, people often slaughtered their enemies, but sometimes they were taken prisoner and used as slaves. In the Ancient World, slavery… Continue reading A History of Slavery
A History of Suffragette Arson and Bombings
By Tim Lambert In the years from 1912 to 1914 Suffragettes committed crimes like vandalism and arson. They also planted bombs. However, the WSPU did not want votes for all women – only those who met a property qualification. (In Britain not all men could vote, a large minority did not have that right) On… Continue reading A History of Suffragette Arson and Bombings
A History of The Guillotine
By Tim Lambert Most of us associate the guillotine with the French Revolution. However, mechanical devices for beheading people were used in Europe long before then. One was recorded in Dublin in 1307. The Scots had a beheading device called The Maiden, which was used between 1564 and 1710. Meanwhile, in the town of Halifax… Continue reading A History of The Guillotine
A History of The Titanic
By Tim Lambert The Titanic is probably the most famous shipwreck of all time. The Titanic is remembered both because it sank on its maiden voyage and because of the terrible loss of life but also, perhaps because so many lives could easily have been saved (The Titanic did not have enough lifeboats for everybody).… Continue reading A History of The Titanic
A History of the Witch Trials in Europe
By Tim Lambert The Background to the Witch Trials From the late 15th century to the late 18th century, a wave of persecution washed across parts of Europe. Tens of thousands of people were executed for witchcraft. So what happened? Belief in magic was very common in the past. Almost all cultures believed that you… Continue reading A History of the Witch Trials in Europe