In pre-modern society, the ordeal typically was done together with the oath and witness accounts as the central means by which to reach a verdict.

Thus rites of birth were common in many pre-modern societies.

Nobility was the highest social class in pre-modern societies.

It was found in many pre-modern tribal societies.

As in all pre-modern societies, storytelling was popular.

Though writing in the modern era, he shared the values of the pre-modern society he described.

This makes it a valuable technique for studying many pre-modern societies.

For example, especially in pre-modern societies, most strangers were involved in trade activities.

Similar practices existed in some pre-modern Central European societies when a woman who was engaged to be married died before the wedding.