After reading the section labeled “A Brief History of Criminology in Chapter 1 of the textbook, I learned more about the background of how crime has been conceptualized and dealt with over time. I would categorize the changes in our understanding of crime over time as learning from experiences and observing societal changes. In the “Middle Ages, people who violated social norms or religious practices were believed to be witches or possessed by demons” (Siegel 5). Those people were met with harsh punishments most times resulting in death. As centuries went on, crime began to be defined in different ways. From non-violent crimes to robberies and assaults. Our understanding of crimes and why they happen has evolved because society has a knowledge of what is right and wrong, or good and bad.