The History of Torture and Execution Quiz

Answer: crucifixion

The methodology of crucifixion was simple: victims were tied or nailed to a wooden cross and left to die from thirst or starvation, combined with sheer exhaustion. The Roman Emperor Constantine abolished crucifixion in AD 337 throughout the Roman Empire.

Answer: beheading

Until 1745, death by beheading was a popular form of execution in England. Famous victims include Sir Walter Raleigh (beheaded 29th October 1618) and two wives of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn (beheaded 19th May 1536) and Catherine Howard (beheaded 15th February 1542). It was also used in many other countries and survived into the 20th century with the guillotine.

Answer: water

This was known as Trial by Ordeal and there were many different forms. Trial by Water could involve the use of either scalding hot water or freezing iced water. If hot water was used, the victim would have to put their hand or arm into a pot of the scalding liquid. Three days later, the wounds would be inspected. If they were healing, the victim was declared innocent. However, if the wounds didn't heal, the victim was guilty. With trials that involved cold water, the victim would be restrained and lowered into a river with a rope tied around their waist. If the knot tied in the centre of the rope got wet, the victim was innocent. If the knot stayed dry, they were guilty.

There was also trial by fire and trial by combat. All these forms of trial were condemned by the Lateran Council of 1215, but continued in use for some centuries.

Answer: burning at the stake

During the five years that Queen Mary I ruled England, nearly 300 people were burnt at the stake. In the mid 14th century, when the Black Death ravaged Europe, wild rumours began to spread the Jews were responsible for the dreadful disease, despite the fact that large numbers of Jews were dying of the plague. The result: more than 1000 Jews were tortured and sent to the stake.

Probably the most famous person burnt at the stake was Jeanne D'Arc, known in English as Joan of Arc. At the age of nineteen, she was executed on May 30th, 1431, after being convicted of heresy and witchcraft.

Answer: transportation

This form of punishment was a show of power. The British monarchy could appear merciful not executing prisoners. The prisoners, however, had a different view of things as transportation meant going to mysterious lands, far away from their friends and families. It was also a way of populating remote colonies in countries such as America, Africa and Australia.

Exile to remote areas was not new. Russia had already begun sending people to Siberia as a punishment.

Answer: the electric chair

Since its invention, more than 4,300 people have been executed in the Electric Chair. The condemned person is strapped into the chair. Electrodes are then attached to their ankles and shaved head, by way of a helmet. Powerful electric shocks of up to 2,000 volts are then sent through the body.

The rack and the thumbscrew were devices typically found in various torture chambers. (They were also widely used by the Inquisition, which then claimed that as good Christians they did not shed blood). The Scold's Bridle was a type of metal helmet worn by women accused of breaking the public peace. Inside the helmet was a strap that went in the mouth, thus preventing the wearer from speaking.

Answer: gibbet

When executions failed to bring down the crime rate, lawmakers developed a new deterrent. This was the use of suspended metal cages known as gibbets. The body of an executed criminal would be displayed in a gibbet near the scene of their crime as a warning to others.

Gibbets were considered to be frightening and parents would often allow their kids to see them, hoping that such a fearful sight would deter the children from a life of crime.

Answer: 3

Five grams of Sodium thiopental puts the condemned person to sleep. The are then given ten milligrams of Midazolam and forty milligrams of Hydromorphone to paralyse the lungs and stop the heart.

Answer: 4000

Over a 72 year period approximately 4,661 people were executed in the US. The most common forms of execution used were lethal injection, hanging, and the electric chair.

Answer: True

The cangue was a common form of punishment. A thick, heavy wooden board was fastened around the criminal's neck with details of their crimes written on it. The sentence could be anything up to a month, during which time, unless friends or relatives intervened, criminals could die from thirst or starvation.