Throughout history, societies have employed various forms of punishment to maintain order and deter crime. In ancient times, punishments often included physical penalties such as flogging or mutilation. For example, in Ancient Rome, criminals could face severe consequences like being thrown to wild animals in the Colosseum. As societies evolved, so did their methods of punishment. The Middle Ages saw the use of stocks and pillories, where offenders were publicly humiliated. By the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries began to adopt more structured legal systems, leading to the establishment of prisons as a means of rehabilitation rather than mere punishment.