Beccaria Modernized Criminal Law

Written in the form of letters, 'The Persian Letters' is a satirical and philosophical work that explores various themes such as human nature, social structures, customs, and institutions. The novel follows two Persian travelers, Usbek and Rica, as they observe and comment on European society, particularly in France during the early 18th century. It addresses topics like the role of women, statecraft, justice, morality, and the comparison between Eastern and Western cultures. The work is known for its witty and inventive style, blending travel literature with the epistolary genre.

Written in 1764, 'On Crimes and Punishments' is a seminal work by Cesare Beccaria that critiques the punishment practices of the 17th and 18th centuries. Beccaria argues that punishment should be public, prompt, necessary, proportionate to the crime, and established by law. He opposes torture, secret accusations, and the death penalty, except under very restricted circumstances. The book emphasizes deterrence as the primary purpose of punishment and advocates for reforms based on the principles of rationality, proportionality, and the rule of law. It had a significant impact on the development of modern criminal law and influenced thinkers such as Jeremy Bentham and Sir William Blackstone.