Medieval trials by ordeal were surprisingly effective
Medieval "trial by ordeal" subjected accused criminals to brutal tests like hot iron or drowning, yet surprisingly, these trials were effective at eliciting confessions from the guilty.
Imagine proving your innocence by carrying a red-hot iron bar or plunging your hand into boiling water! In medieval Europe, accused criminals faced "trial by ordeal," painful tests believed to reveal God's judgment. If you sank when thrown into water, you were innocent (but might drown); if you floated, you were guilty of witchcraft.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
2 more paragraphs · plus a 2-question quiz