FORENSICS: The Beginning

FORENSICS: The Beginning

Death by tiger bites. Death by prodding. Death from sexual excess. Deaths from over-eating and over-drinking. The opening of graves.


These are a few of the chapter headings in a 13th-century Chinese book called ‘The Washing Away of Wrongs’. It is a compendium of grizzly, gory, bizarre murders and deaths.


Its author was Song Ci, a Confucian trained bureaucrat who, like his fellow officials all over China, was responsible for investigating murders in his jurisdiction. According to the Wikipedia page for ‘forensic science’ this book is the earliest written evidence of forensic thinking. Is that correct?


Our guest today is Daniel Asen, a historian of China at Rutgers University.


This is the first episode in a mini-series from Patented: History of Inventions we’re bringing you all about the invention of Forensics.


Produced by Freddy Chick

Edited by Pete Dennis and Anisha Deva

The actors were Lucy Davidson and Tristan Hughes

The Executive Producer is Charlotte Long


If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe to History Hit today!


To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(1498)

The Bombing of Guernica

The Bombing of Guernica

The aerial bombardment that rained down on the Spanish city of Guernica in 1937 was one of the most shocking atrocities of the Spanish Civil War. Dan and David Brydan - historian of Modern Spain at Ki...

8 Joulu 202529min

Sitting Bull and the Battle of Little Bighorn

Sitting Bull and the Battle of Little Bighorn

The Battle of the Little Bighorn - also known as the Battle of the Greasy Grass - was one of the most dramatic and important clashes in American history. In June 1876, on the rolling plains of Montana...

4 Joulu 202553min

How to Survive the Age of Sail

How to Survive the Age of Sail

What was life really like aboard the great wooden ships of the Age of Sail? Dan joins After Dark hosts Anthony and Maddy to step aboard these creaking vessels and uncover who served at sea, what drove...

1 Joulu 202538min

The Assassination of JFK

The Assassination of JFK

Anyone alive at the time remembers the day President John F. Kennedy was shot dead in Dallas, Texas, on November 22 1963. In this episode, Dan provides a moment-by-moment account of the day that shock...

27 Marras 202527min

John F. Kennedy: Myths vs Reality

John F. Kennedy: Myths vs Reality

John F. Kennedy was a man of charm, power, and contradictions. Behind the public image of the heroic president lay a figure plagued by pain, haunted by his past, and driven by desire.Dan is joined by ...

24 Marras 202543min

The Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada

In 1588, Spain’s mighty armada sailed to invade England and change the balance of power in Europe. Dan explains why Philip II launched the Armada, details the high-stakes clash in the Channel, and out...

20 Marras 20251h 9min

Nuremberg: The Trial of Göring

Nuremberg: The Trial of Göring

Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide.When the Nuremberg Trials began in November 1945, Hermann Göring was the highest-ranking Nazi to face justice for the crimes of the Third Reich. Ch...

17 Marras 202540min

The Black Death

The Black Death

Could the plucked backside of a chicken really cure the plague? If that question has ever crossed your mind, then this episode is for you. Today, we’re diving into the Black Death - where it originate...

13 Marras 202535min

Suosittua kategoriassa Historia

olipa-kerran-otsikko
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
mayday-fi
huijarit
mystista
rss-ikiuni
totuus-vai-salaliitto
tsunami
konginkangas
rouva-diktaattori
rss-i-dont-like-mondays-2
rss-sattuu-sita-suomessakin
rss-peter-peter
rss-kalmakabinetti
tiedetta-ja-sirkushuveja-vanhojen-aikojen-podcast
maailmanpuu
apinan-vuosi
rss-subjektiivinen-todistaja
rss-kirkon-ihmeellisimmat-tarinat
sotaa-ja-historiaa-podi