1. Medieval Torture

2. Medieval Torture
Torture was used during the Middle Ages for three reasons:
To force confessions or secret information from those accused
To discourage dissent and intellectual freedom
To persuade Jews, Muslims, and other non-believers to accept Christianity

3. Whirligig
Spinning Cage
Primarily used for military punishment

4. Wooden Wedges Used to force confessions
Forced underneath toenails and fingernails
Other tortures used with the wedges when this was not enough to force confession

5. Scissors
Used to slice tongue after victims mouth was forced open

6. The Copper Boot
Place around victims foot
Filled with molten lead

7. The Sprinkler
Filled with molten metal
Dripped on body of the victim

8. Water Torture
Victims nostrils pinched shut
Fluid poured down throat

9. The Thumbscrew
Placed on thumb and tightened until bone is crushed

10. Iron Maiden Iron Maiden
Spikes in the Iron Maiden were strategically located to avoid major organs, thereby prolonging the inevitable death of the accused.
Small Box

11. The Spanish Donkey
Victim placed on top
Weights tied on legs

12. The Foot Press
Press slowly squeezed the naked foot between the iron plates
Crushed bones

13. The Head Crusher Victims head placed inside clamp
Tightened until it cracked the skull

14. The Scottish Boot Boot placed around ankle
Wedges then forced into the ankle

15. The Masks and Branks

16. The Chastity Belt
Used to prevent infidelity and encourage women to be faithful
Used to prevent women from being raped

17. The Garrotte Iron collar with iron rod being tightened from behind
Victim died from asphyxiation and because spinal cord was being crushed
Used in Spain until 1975

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

19. The Rack Stretched victim until bones and joints were pulled apart
If victim did not die they were often so injured they could not take part in a confession

20. Cat`s Paw or Spanish Tickler
Used to rip victims flesh
from the bone
Victims tied up by hands and feet

21. The 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 smashed
with iron-tyred edge of the wheel

22. The Heretic`s Fork
Forks penetrated the skin under the chin and over the chest
Forks did not penetrate into vital points, prolonging suffering before death

23. The Saw
Inflicted for a variety of crimes including witchcraft, rebellion, and military disobedience.
Victim inverted to slow down general loss of blood so he did not loose consciousness at once, and could endure longer suffering.

24. Juda`s Cradle Hung by iron belt surrounding upper waist
Bound hand and foot
Used in multiple ways

25. The Guillotine

26. Brazen Bull
Victims slowly burned to death

27. Rat Torture Rats used to eat away at the victim’s body.
Would put rat under a bowl and then heat it.
Rat would end up eating through the victim trying to escape

28. Pear of Anguish
Used to get a confession or to cause miscarriages of a woman who cheated on her husband.
Was slowly opened up

29. Foot Roasting
They would put the victim’s legs in the foot stocks and put hot coals underneath or light a fire.
It would burn the legs to the bone

30. Pillory Torture Used to embarrass victims
Stuff could be thrown at them
They would be beaten or whipped

31. Crocodile Tube
Put into a coffin like case with spikes like crocodile teeth.
They would put fire under the tube and heat it up but also close the tube in more and more on the victim’s body
Used on thieves

32. The Spanish Spider
Used to mutilate a woman’s chest

33. Flaying Torture Slowly with a small knife they will skin the victim
Started with the face and only did a little at a time.
They would leave the victim then come back later and do a little more.

34. Boiling Pot
Used to boil the victim alive

35. Public Torture
Used to embarrass the victim out in public

36. Brain Page
According to the basic definition of civilization, are the Middle Ages civilized? Why or Why not?
What has the word civilized come to mean?

37. Brain Page
How do torture and religion relate? Why would a simple, uneducated peasant enjoy watching someone getting tortured? (think religiously)

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