Final answer:
Punishment of crimes in the Middle Ages was arbitrary and severe with brutal and fear-inducing methods of execution, torture, and mutilation.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Middle Ages, punishment of crimes was characterized as arbitrary and severe. The legal system at the time was not based on fairness or equitability, but rather on the absolute authority of the ruling class. Punishments were often brutal and intended to instill fear. Examples included public executions, torture, and mutilation.
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