http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/ Discuss American and world history en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:42:56 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/ http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/history-hall-28/origins-12-man-jury-28357/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:25:52 GMT I have been watching Becket on TV and I started to look up Henry the 2 of England and this fact jumped right out at me.

He originated the 12 man jury which replaced a system that pretty much guaranteed someone was guilty if accused.

"Legal Reforms - Henry introduced several major reforms. Prior to 1166 trial by ordeal was a common way of determining guilt or innocence in criminal cases. Under this system, an accused person might have to pick up a red hot bar of iron, or pluck a stone out of a boiling cauldron. If their hand had begun to heal after three days they were considered to have God on their side, affirming their innocence. One has to wonder how many "not guilty" verdicts were rendered by this system! Henry replaced this rather painful system with a jury of 12 men. He also introduced the first personal property tax. At the same time he forced Wales to at least nominally acknowledge the sovereignty of the English crown. "

http://www.britainexpress.com/Histor...s_a_Becket.htm ]]> History Hall samspade http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/history-hall-28/origins-12-man-jury-28357/ http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/history-hall-28/greeks-discover-odysseus-palace-28290/ Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:13:21 GMT An 8th BC century palace which Greek archaeologists claim was the home of Odysseus has been discovered in Ithaca, fuelling theories that the hero of Homer's epic poem was real.

Odysseus – known to the ancient Romans as Ulysses – famously took 10 years to return home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy.

On his journey, he was twice shipwrecked and encountered a cyclops, the spirit of his mother and tempting Sirens before returning to Ithaca, where he found his wife, Penelope, under pressure to remarry from a host of suitors who had invaded the royal palace.

Greeks 'discover Odysseus' palace in Ithaca, proving Homer's hero was real' - Telegraph ]]> History Hall samspade http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/history-hall-28/greeks-discover-odysseus-palace-28290/