The History of Execution: Death b...

The History of Execution: Death by 1000 Cuts, Cannon Fire, and Everything Between

Explicit
The Darkives: Serious history. Told not so seriously by Leo Eaton and Jamie Tavenner
E56
Aug 14, 2026
29:01

Episode notes

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This week Jamie and Leo take a tour through history's most disturbing execution methods across civilizations and centuries. From the Code of Hammurabi (one of the earliest written legal codes), to ancient Rome and how they got down with a death sentence. We also have a few remarkably specific capital offenses from the Aztec Empire, China's Lingchi ( AKA death by 1000 Cuts), and the British practice of blowing condemned prisoners from the mouth of a cannon...

Is there anything people won't do?

Some of these methods were designed to deter. Some were designed to humiliate.

History has always had a lot of ideas on how to end a life and humanity has always had strong feelings about punishment. We go through some examples of the reasons why and the methods used across time to exact "justice" on others.

Serious history. Told not so seriously.

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Sources:

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard-geoffharvey

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

licensed through: Pixabay

Other music used: licensed through Pixabay-used under the Pixabay Content License