Medieval & Early Modern Animal Trials
Stuff You Missed in History Class
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The Absurdity of Animal Trials
This chapter examines the bizarre practice of animal trials in medieval and early modern times, highlighting a famous case where rats were summoned to court for crop destruction. It reveals the intricacies of judicial processes for non-human defendants and the societal beliefs surrounding animals' legal responsibilities.
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There are some parallels between historical witch trials and trials of non-human animals in the same period, with a lot of the same procedures as were used when human beings were charged with a crime.
Research:
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