Final answer:
A trial by ordeal was a medieval legal practice where the accused went through life-threatening or painful trials, believed to be judgments from divine forces, rather than relying on evidence-based argumentation like in modern trials.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trial by Ordeal in Legal History
A trial by ordeal might have been a harrowing process in which the accused underwent dangerous or painful tests, believed to be judgments from divine forces. Common types were trial by fire, where the accused had to hold or walk with a hot iron or reach into flames, and trial by water, often involving submersion in water with survival indicating innocence. Another type was trial by combat, where the accused fought to prove their innocence.
These trials did not involve complex legal arguments or modern technology and are a stark contrast to contemporary legal proceedings, which emphasize evidence, jury deliberation, and legal representation.
Example from Historical Account
Abu Zayd al-Sirafi, in his description of Indian trials by fire, provides a vivid example of such an ordeal, where an accused held a red-hot iron to prove his innocence. If his hand showed no sign of injury after a specified time, he was considered innocent. While al-Sirafi does not explicitly state whether he finds this method effective, his account portrays a system deeply reliant on the supernatural rather than factual evidence or legal expertise.