How does a community form? How does it survive and adapt to change? This episode details the role myths and legends have played in establishing the rules of society and the punishments for those who break them. The Pied Piper of Hamelin is an old tale of social norms ignored and punished. The agreed upon deal with the mysterious piper is not fulfilled and the town's children pay the price. But what are the origins of the legend? We also investigate the longevity of legendary outlaw Robin Hood, examine how stories of magic and malice led to the horrific witch trials of Bamberg, Germany, and explore how the bizarre Victorian urban legend of Spring-Heeled Jack was a nightmarish response to rapid social change in 19th-century Britain.
