Punishment never really fulfills its purpose because it is almost never carried out as intended. From the laws of the Mesopotamians to today's prison system, from various tortures to restrictions on personal freedom, the method of punishment seems to be gradually moving from barbarism to civilization, but is its purpose to prevent harm, or is it punishment itself?
This book is divided into two parts. The first four chapters provide a historical overview of the mainstream penal ideas and practices of the earliest civilizations in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. These ideas laid the foundation for modern law and punishment. The last four chapters describe in detail the four main methods of punishment: corporal punishment, imprisonment, torture and death penalty.
