Trial By Combat
Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More
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Introduction
In the TV series Game of Thrones, there were four different seasons where disputes were determined with trial by combat. For centuries, trial by combat was a legitimate option for conflict resolution and may still exist today. It is an offshoot of something known as trial by ordeal which involved going through unpleasant experiences such as walking over hot coals or being submerged in water. The legal theory behind a trial by ordeal in Christian Europe was that God would protect the innocent and invoke a miracle on their behalf. In this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, we look at some theories about how trial by combat might have been carried out during ancient times.
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Transcript
