Medieval in More Ways than One

[wellingtongoose]

We have seen that the demographics of the wizarding world resembles pre-industrial Britain between the late middle ages and the early modern period. I have discussed the burden of infectious diseases on wizarding society but traditionally disease is not the only problem facing pre-industrial societies.

Where death stalks the land, it does so in the

Comments

[chianazhaan]

"This is not a society that values justice, or even the individual lives of the populace. This is a society imprisoned by its own fear of exposure and will use any means necessary to prevent this from happening."

Every society values justice; the question is whether is can achieve it and how well. Think about the justice system before DNA evidence and fingerprints and so on. Then think about the four possibilities:

• a guilty person is convicted
• a guilty person is acquitted
• an innocent person is convicted
• an innocent person is acquitted

One needs evidence to differentiate between those 4 possibilities. Without measurable evidence, society will look at your reputation and influence, but also the reputation and influence of the person providing you with an alibi.

And when one applies "means, motive and opportunity" to the wizarding world... The means will always be a wand so anyone older than 11 years qualifies. The opportunity can be created by apparating so almost everyone above 6th year qualifies. It leaves the justice system with influence, motive and reputation. Which goes a long way in explaining how Tom Riddle could accuse Hagrid and almost succeed in getting Hagrid sent to Azkaban.