10 Shocking and Outrageous Trials in History
2. Socrates:
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher who was tried and executed in 399 BC on two charges: corrupting the youth and immorality. Particularly, Socrates' accusers cited two sinful acts that led to his terrific ending- ‘failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges’ and ‘introducing new deities.’ A majority of the dikasts (citizens) voted to convict him. Socrates was ultimately sentenced to death by making him drink a hemlock-based liquid. Till date Socrates is remembered as a man who prefers death over injustice at the hands of others.
3. Salem Witch Trials:
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of over 200 people who were accused of practicing witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, during the late 17th century. The proceedings of this trial were conducted by the Court of Oyer and Terminer in various towns like Danvers (then Salem Village), Ipswich and Salem Town. The episode is one of America’s most notorious cases of mass hysteria where 20 were executed, and has been used in political oratory and popular literature as a tale about the dangers of isolationism, religious extremism, false accusations and lapses in due process.
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