An eye for an eye : a global history of crime and punishment

From “an eye for an eye” to debates over capital punishment, humanity has a long and controversial relationship with doling out justice for criminal acts. Today, crime and punishment remain significant parts of our culture, but societies vary greatly on what is considered criminal and how it should be punished. In this global survey of crime and punishment throughout history, Mitchel P. Roth examines how and why we penalize certain activities, and he scrutinizes the effectiveness of such efforts in both punishing wrongdoers and bringing a sense of justice to victims. Drawing on anthropology, archaeology, folklore, and literature, Roth chronicles the global history of crime and punishment—from early civilizations to the outlawing of sex crimes and serial homicide to the development of organized crime and the threat today of global piracy. He explores the birth of the penitentiary and the practice of incarceration as well as the modern philosophy of rehabilitation, arguing that these are perhaps the most important advances in the effort to safeguard citizens from harm. Looking closely at the retributions societies have condoned, Roth also look at execution and its many forms, showing how stoning, hemlock, the firing squad, and lethal injection are considered either barbaric or justified across different cultures. Ultimately, he illustrates that despite advances in every level of human experience, there is remarkable continuity in what is considered a crime and the sanctions administered. Perfect for students, academics, and general readers alike, this interdisciplinary book provides a fascinating look at criminality and its consequences. Since The Dawn Of Mankind, Humans Have Demonstrated A Remarkable Capacity For Violence, Deceit And Mayhem. With The Advent Of Civilization And The Creation Of Laws To Uphold Our Sense Of Security And Retribution, The Notions Of Crime And Punishment Have Come To Play Significant Roles In Societies The World Over. But How And Why Do We Penalize Certain Activities Over Others, And How Effective Are These Penalties In Punishing The Wrongdoers And Bringing A Sense Of Justice To Victims? An Eye For An Eye Covers Everything From Petty Wrongdoings To Sexual 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 Attempts To Overcome The Lack Of Historical Written Documentation, Especially In Non-western Cultures, By Using An Interdisciplinary Approach That Ranges From Anthropology And Archaeology To Folklore, Classical Literature And Oral Traditions. It Reveals That There Is A Remarkable Continuity Throughout History In What Crimes Are Committed As Well As The Sanctions Used To Punish Them. Perfect For Students, Academics And General Readers Alike, This Book Provides A Fascinating Insight Into Criminality And Its Consequences On A Global Scale. -- Jacket Crime And Punishment : In The Beginning -- The Rise Of Legal Traditions -- Crime In A Changing Landscape : From Feudalism To The City And The State -- The Transformation Of Punishment And The Rise Of The Penitentiary -- Highwaymen, Bandits, Brigands And Bushrangers : Bands Of Thieves And Early Organized Criminality -- Prohibitions, Pirates, Slave Traders, Drug Smugglers And The Internationalization Of Criminality -- The Face Of Modern Murder -- Crime And Punishment In A Post-colonial World -- Crime And Punishment In The Twenty-first Century. Mitchel P. Roth. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 326-330) And Index. "Since the dawn of mankind, humans have demonstrated a remarkable capacity for violence, deceit and mayhem. With the advent of civilization and the creation of laws to uphold our sense of security and retribution, the notions of crime and punishment have come to play significant roles in societies the world over. But how and why do we penalize certain activities over others, and how effective are these penalties in punishing the wrongdoers and bringing a sense of justice to victims? An Eye for an Eye covers everything from petty wrongdoings to sexual 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 attempts to overcome the lack of historical written documentation, especially in non-Western cultures, by using an interdisciplinary approach that ranges from anthropology and archaeology to folklore, classical literature and oral traditions. It reveals that there is a remarkable continuity throughout history in what crimes are committed as well as the sanctions used to punish them. Perfect for students, academics and general readers alike, this book provides a fascinating insight into criminality and its consequences on a global scale. --Site Web de l'éditeur Overview: From "an eye for an eye" to debates over capital punishment, humanity has a long and controversial relationship with doling out justice for criminal acts. Today, crime and punishment remain significant parts of our culture, but societies vary greatly on what is considered criminal and how it should be punished. In this global survey of crime and punishment throughout history, Mitchel P. Roth examines how and why we penalize certain activities, and he scrutinizes the effectiveness of such efforts in both punishing wrongdoers and bringing a sense of justice to victims. Drawing on anthropology, archaeology, folklore, and literature, Roth chronicles the global history of crime and punishment-from early civilizations to the outlawing of sex crimes and serial homicide to the development of organized crime and the threat today of global piracy. He explores the birth of the penitentiary and the practice of incarceration as well as the modern philosophy of rehabilitation, arguing that these are perhaps the most important advances in the effort to safeguard citizens from harm. Looking closely at the retributions societies have condoned, Roth also look at execution and its many forms, showing how stoning, hemlock, the firing squad, and lethal injection are considered either barbaric or justified across different cultures. Ultimately, he illustrates that despite advances in every level of human experience, there is remarkable continuity in what is considered a crime and the sanctions administered Cover 1 An Eye For An Eye: A Global History of Crime and Punishment 5 Imprint Page 6 Contents 7 Introduction 9 1. Crime and Punishment: In the Beginning 19 2. The Rise of Legal Traditions 50 3. Crime in a Changing Landscape: From Feudalism to the City and the State 83 4. The Transformation of Punishment and the Rise of the Penitentiary 109 5. Highwaymen, Bandits, Brigands and Bushrangers: Bands of Thieves and Early Organized Criminality 146 6. Prohibitions, Pirates, Slave Traders, Drug Smugglers and the Internationalization of Criminality 173 7. The Face of Modern Murder 199 8. Crime and Punishment in a Post-colonial World 227 9. Crime and Punishment in the Twenty-first Century 262 References 302 Select Bibliography 328 Acknowledgements 333 Index 334