The lecture discusses the Crime and Punishment Unit for Edexcel GCSE History.
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Topic 1: Crime and Punishment in Medieval England
Focus on Anglo-Saxon England.
Criminal Activity: Categorized into crimes against the person, property, and authority.
Person: Murder, assault, kidnapping.
Property: Theft, burglary, arson.
Authority: Treason, rebellion, disobedience.
Law Enforcement: Role of the king, the church, and local communities was crucial.
King: Issued laws, maintained peace, and acted as a figure of justice.
Nobility: Advised the king, enforced laws locally.
Church: Defined moral behavior, influenced laws, offered sanctuary.
Punishments: Weregild, fines, corporal punishment, capital punishment.
Topic 2: Crime and Punishment in Norman England
Focus on changes post-1066, impact of the Norman Conquest.
Centralization: Shift from local autonomy to centralized authority under the king.
New Laws: Murder laws, curfew, forest laws, defining more actions as crimes.
King's Influence: Increased legal control, centralization led to law standardization.
Continuity and Change: Retained some Anglo-Saxon practices but introduced Royal appointments and circuit judges.
Topic 3: Crime and Punishment in Later Medieval England
Henry II's Reforms: Unified legal system, introduced Royal courts and assizes.
Parliament's Role: Statute of Laborers controlled wages post-Black Death.
Law Enforcement: Community remained central, new roles like coroners and justices of the peace established.
Punishments: Continuity in fines, corporal punishment; new harsh methods like hanging, drawing, and quartering for treason.
Topic 4: Influence of the Church
Power of the Church: Influenced laws, owned significant wealth, imposed tithes.
Sanctuary and Benefit of Clergy: Offered protection to criminals, tried clergy in church courts.
Trial by Ordeal: Ended due to Pope Innocent III's decree; shift to trial by jury.
Topic 5: Crime and Punishment in Early Modern England
Changing Definitions: Religious changes led to the criminalization of witchcraft and changes in heresy and treason laws.
Reformation Impact: Shifted religious practices, influenced laws.
Economic and Social Changes: Vagabondage, poaching, smuggling became significant crimes.
Law Enforcement: Local communities remained involved, role of constables and night watchmen grew.
Topic 6: Crime and Punishment in 18th and 19th Century Britain
Continued Changes: Smuggling, highway robbery, poaching prominent due to economic pressures.
Law Enforcement Evolution: Establishment of Metropolitan Police, CID.
Punishment Evolution: Decline of public executions, rise of prisons and transportation.
Topic 7: Crime and Punishment in the 20th Century
New Crimes: Cybercrime, hate crimes, changes due to social attitudes.
Domestic Violence Laws: Developed to protect victims, make marital rape illegal.
Abortion and Race Relations: Laws changed to reflect modern views.
Law Enforcement Changes: Increased specialization, technology use, community involvement.
Case Studies
Gunpowder Plotters (1605): Failed Catholic plot against King James I.
Matthew Hopkins & Witch Hunts (1645-47): Role in witch trials and societal impact.
Derek Bentley Case (1952): Highlighted issues with the death penalty, influenced its abolition.
Conclusion
The lecture provided an extensive overview of crime and punishment throughout history, showing shifts in legal systems, societal attitudes, and enforcement mechanisms.