How did torture change the world?

Answer 1

Today, people think torture is a new human act. But it isn't. Unfortunately, various forms of tortures have existed since before the Middle Ages and were often common during wars or to deal with enemies. In war, in particular, men believed that a conquer should not only take "the spoils" (food, weapons, resources, gold, silver, etc.), but they felt they should also "spoil" (rape) women, take human slaves, and torture male-enemies.

Church and Christianity in the Middle Ages and later practiced some tortures, including self-torture, as seen in the lives of Saints. Even the Salem Witch trials and punishments included torture and death.


Again, in every modern war there have been torture methods. When these are done by an opposing army, the tortured claim that army is "evil" and despicable. But, when the tortured become torturers, they claim it's only fair to do what had been done to them. But revenge serves no purpose; torture creates a cycle, just like any other abuse. If I scream at you, you scream at me; if I hit you, you hit me; if I torture you, you torture me-- it becomes endless UNLESS moral people refuse to do it anymore.


So waterboarding, sleep deprivation, etc., etc., are the only tortures young people hear about today. But to truly understand torture and it's origins, you need to read military history, religious history, and history of conquers to new lands.