HIGH MIDDLE AGES

: What was my INTU?
What each court would do if you did something bad. What punishments would follow.
: What did I learn?
I learned how trials were held in the Middle Ages and how brutal punishment was.
: How did I find the information I was searching for?
Websites
:What two learner profiles did I flex?

Thinker & Knowledgeable

Why did the trials happen?

• Those in charge of law and order believed that, people would only learn how to behave properly IF they feared what would happen to them when they broke the law.

WHAT IS THE TRIAL BY ORDEAL?

• Trial by ordeal was when a person's innocence was tested by putting them in dangerous or difficult situations.

Ordeals that were most used

• Ordeal by fire: After accused person held hot red iron bar, if the wound was getting better after 3 days, a person was innocent.
• Ordeal by water: Throw a person into "Holy" water. If they sank, they were innocent. If they floated, they were guilty.
• Ordeal by combat: People would fight in combat with their accusers, whoever won was right.

What kind of courts they had

• Manor court: Dealt with charges of assault and petty theft. The court allowed Serf's to sue, if they felt that it was unfair.
• Royal court: Dealt with serious crimes such as murder and burglary. The court could order execution of murderers and thieves and take away their property.
• Church court: Could judge bishops, priests, clerks, monks and nuns. This court gave lighter sentences than royal courts. The court couldn't sentence death.

TIME TO CHANGE TRIAL SYSTEM - JURY

• In 1215, the Pope decided that priests in England must not help with ordeals. As a result, ordeals were replaced with trials by jury. A group of learned men would listen to the testimony, consider the evidence, then pronounce guilt or innocence.

Websites: Work cited lists

• History learning site.co.uk
• Yesnet.yk.ca
• MedievalEroupe.mrdonn.org