In the medieval period, figuring out if someone was innocent or guilty was often done by trail by ordeal. During trial by ordeal, the accused would be forced to take part in a painful, and sometimes deadly, activity in order to prove their innocence.
There were many different trials by ordeal; research what each of the trials below entailed. The first has been done for you as an example.
Trial by combat
Trial by water Trial by fire
Trial by cross Trial by bread 1. Why, do you think, the trial by ordeal system was used in the Middle Ages?
Lords accused of a crime would fight their accuser, usually to the death, to prove their innocence.
2. Can you think of any advantages of this system?
3. List and explain two disadvantages of the trial by ordeal system. (i)
