ABSTRACT
The Middle or Dark Ages was a period of deeply entrenched determinism. Deviance was not a gesture of autonomy but, instead, the result of supernatural or otherworldly forces. Following the fall of Rome, the Church gained prominence, working alongside or, at times, against the Crown for control of the souls and the bodies of the citizenry. This chapter focuses on the philosophical, religious, and political developments that guided conceptions of deviance and conformity throughout this tumultuous time. The authors examine shifting perceptions of sin, autonomy, and free will, and how these perceptions influenced determinations of guilt and innocence. In addition, the chapter assesses the impact of oscillating relations between the Church and the Crown on the criminal justice system.
