The guillotine, employed during France's "Reign of Terror" in the 1790s, emerged as the favored execution method. Surprisingly, this macabre contraption, engineered for mechanical beheading, traces its roots back to the Middle Ages and even earlier. Astonishingly, the guillotine remained in use until 1977 for capital punishment.
Intrigued? Click through for a heads up on the history of the guillotine.