How Did Medieval Ecclesiastical Criminal Law Impact the Ideology of Contemporary European Criminal Law

Abstract

This paper explores the correlation between medieval ecclesiastical criminal law and contemporary European criminal law, as well as how the former has influenced the ideology of the latter. This work initially presents the contextual background and rationale for the chosen topic, subsequently provides a comprehensive overview of existing research in this field, and subsequently advances three hypotheses in the main body of the paper: the transition from customary law to written law, the perpetuation of original sin theory, and the establishment of theoretical principles within criminal law. These hypotheses are then systematically examined to derive conclusive findings. Based on my research, it can conclude that all three hypotheses hold true. This investigation contributes to bridging an intentional gap overlooked by theoretical constructions and approaching an authentic understanding of history.