Criminal Corpse and Execution: Historical Perspectives

Capital punishment has been practiced at some point in the history of almost all known societies and places. However, it is not a historical constant. The uses, forms, functions and meanings of execution differ greatly across different historical contexts. This is also true for an important, though relatively neglected, aspect of the death penalty: the fate of the criminal body after execution. The treatment and understanding of the criminal corpses has varied through time and place, but it has always been a powerful force. Throughout history it has been utilized for the purposes of state power, medical science and criminal justice, amongst many other things. This book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects on the history of criminal corpses and executions. The readers would gain knowledge that would broaden their perspective about this field.