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Medieval Torture Research Paper

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The Middle Ages was known as one of the most violent eras in history. It represents a mind set in which men had thought long and carefully on all forms of suffering. I will discuss the definition and different views on torture. Torture was and continues to be an ethical dilemma prevalent in the world today.
Torture is inflicting mental or physical pain for the purpose of suffering. This is not the same kind of pain as pulling a bad tooth or splinter. It is known that mental torture causes longer lasting damage than physical torture. Some forms of torture are: isolation, threats, humiliation, and witnessing the torture of others. Torture has been used for gathering information from someone who committed a crime or to take revenge upon a person. Torture is essentially conflicting …show more content…

The Brazen Bull was a hollow brass statue to look like a real bull. The victims were placed inside, with their tongue cut out. When the victim was placed inside the door would be shut to seal the victim in. Fire would be lit all around the bull as the victim would absorb all the heat inside of it. (“Medieval Torture”) Another form of torture is called The Wheel; wheels were constructed to be used as a punishment device. In the early medieval days torturers enjoyed tying someone to a large wooden wheel, than pushing it down a rocky hill. The most brutal part of this torture device is similar to crucifixion. They would break all four limbs of the victim in two places by strikes from an iron bar, then they would thread the broken limbs through the spokes of a large wheel, then the wheel would be attached at the top of a tall wooden pole and they would be left out in the sun for days. The victims could be alive for hours in horrendous pain from their arms and legs, the sun beating on them and not to mention the crows flying around them.(“Medieval Torture and

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