Pre-Industrial Europe, 1350-1850 Crime and punishment in early modern Europe

Type

Book

Authors

Weisser, Michael R.

ISBN 10

0855279931

ISBN 13

9780855279936

LCCN

HV 6937 .W43

DDC

364

Tags

History, Legal History, Criminology, Crime, Europe, 1350-1850, Pre-industrial Europe, Punishment, Comparative Study

Series Name

Pre-Industrial Europe, 1350-1850

Abstract

This impressive and lively book presents a completely new interpretation of both crime and punishment as functions of the society in which they occurred. Crime is seen not as aberrant behavior, but as a basic social activity with its own internal logic and historical development. This study of changes in the nature and frequency of crime and of its punishment throws light on the wider changes in social organisation during the shift from feudalism to industrial capitalism. Dr. Weisser analyses the constitution and extent of the 'criminal classes' in the period which witnessed the first serious revision of criminal law codes, the nature and motive of crimes against persons and property, rural and urban crime and the relation between class and criminality. he considers attitudes towards crime, changed in the criminal justice system and the principles behind the work of legal reformers. This important and unusual book presents information from a whole geographical and chronological range, in a coherent historical way.

Description

Contents:
The Social Environment of Crime at the Beginning of the early Modern Period -- The Legal Environment of Crime at the Beginning of the Early Modern Period -- Europe and European crime begin to change -- Europe reacts to the New Crime -- Crime moves toward its Modern form -- punishment to fit the Crime -- The beginnings of Modern Crime -- Police and Punishment in the Modern Age -- Comparison and Conjecture.

Biblio Notes

Includes bibliographical references and index.

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