Final answer:
Expiation is the act of making amends for wrongdoing or sin, often through acts of penance in a religious or spiritual context, to achieve reconciliation and avoid eternal consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term expiation refers to the act of making amends or atoning for guilt or wrongdoing. In historical and religious contexts, expiation involves actions taken to atone for sins or to correct one's transgressions with an aim to achieve reconciliation, especially with a deity. This concept is often tied to spiritual beliefs, where illnesses or misfortunes like crop failure were sometimes interpreted as signs of sin, necessitating acts of penance. These acts of penance could include various forms of personal sacrifice, confessions, or rituals intended to save oneself from eternal consequences by seeking forgiveness and making restitution for sins.