Bastinado, a practice involving the beating of the soles of the feet with rods, became prevalent in Ottoman and Asian cultures around 1400. This form of punishment was notable for causing intense pain without leaving visible marks, reflecting the complexities of justice and discipline in these societies. The use of bastinado highlights the cultural attitudes toward punishment and authority in historical contexts.

The practice of bastinado foot beating in Ottoman and Asian cultures appeared in travelogues and Orientalist poetry, providing a lens into Eastern justice systems. Poets like Lord Byron used these themes to critique Western perceptions of the East and explore cultural differences.