An Eye for an Eye

Crime and Punishment covers everything from petty misdeeds to sex offences, serial homicide, piracy and organized crime. Perhaps the most important development in the attempt to safeguard citizens was the birth of the prison and incarceration; today, the philosophy of rehabilitation is gaining increasing momentum. This book also explores execution throughout history, variously considered barbaric or justified by different cultures and societies: punishments such as stoning, hemlock, firing squad and lethal injection can incite abhorrence and support in equal measure. Written by an expert in the field, this book overcomes the lack of historical written documentation by using an interdisciplinary approach that ranges from anthropology and archaeology to folklore, classical literature and oral traditions. It reveals that there has been a remarkable continuity in crimes through history, well as the punishments meted out. Perfect for students, academics and general readers alike, this book provides a fascinating insight into criminality and its consequences on a global scale.