Penal Transportation

Penal transportation was a historical punishment whereby convicted criminals were sent from their home country to serve their sentences in distant colonies or territories, often as forced labor. This practice aimed to remove offenders from society and serve as a deterrent, while also providing labor for developing colonies. It was common from the 17th to 19th centuries, notably used by Britain to send convicts to Australia and other colonies. The system reflected penal policies of the time, combining punishment, exile, and economic benefit for the colonizing nation.