Dartmouth Events

William Chester Jordan, Dayton-Stockton Professor of History, Princeton

"The Due Reward of Our Deeds: Reflections on the Death Penalty in Medieval Europe," presented by the Religion Department Orr Lecture.

Thursday, April 21, 2022
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Moore Hall B03
Intended Audience(s): Public
Categories: Lectures & Seminars

William Chester Jordan, Dayton-Stockton Professor of History, Princeton University

Lecture title: "The Due Reward of Our Deeds:  Reflections on the Death Penalty in Medieval Europe"

Abstract: "Philosophical, religious and legal objections to capital punishment are almost non-existent in the High Middle Ages, and apparently reflecting this, the penalty was prescribed for many crimes. Yet, the actual use of capital punishment as retribution for “ordinary” felonies—the execution of convicted criminals—was comparatively rare.  Capital punishment, of course, served several functions, and its comparative rarity does not mean it was insignificant either discursively or in the “spectacular” performance of governmental authority (an aspect of statebuilding and preserving the state).  But the disjuncture between the low-level use of a penalty and its extraordinary prominence in law codes needs to be addressed."
 

Thursday, April 21, 2022
4:30pm
Moore B03

Per current Dartmouth College covid policy, all attendees are required to either present their Dartmouth ID OR show proof of vaccination or negative PCR covid test via the Bindle app, upon arrival at the auditorium. Details about Dartmouth College Health & Safety policies are available HERE.

For more information, contact:
Prof Christopher MacEvitt

Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.