Elizabethan Witchcraft Act Essay

Elizabethan Witchcraft Act Essay
The Elizabethan era and the Witchcraft Act
What was the purpose of the witchcraft act and how did it contribute and affect society in the
Elizabethan era?
In the Elizabethan era of Europe witchcraft was greatly feared among citizens and became the cause
of major disruptions in society. From the early 1500s to late 1700s the witchcraft craze rose, spread
and declined in England, therefore leading to the placement of various witchcraft acts during this
period.
The idea of witchcraft existed long before the 16th century, but only after the 16th century, the
perception of witchcraft changed into an opposing view. Before the 16th century, people usually
accepted women making their own medicines and administering it to cure disease or illness, but
when the middle ages began and when millions of people fell into the hands of the plague (Black
Death), witches started receiving negative suspicion for the activities. Citizens began accusing
people with related features to a witch, good or bad, of treachery and acting upon the will of Satan.
This, they connected to the Black Death as their doing.
A stereotype was now created. This stereotype of witches still exists today.
The first witchcraft act in England was placed by Queen Elizabeth's father King Henry VIII. He was
the first to define witchcraft as a crime and that it could be punished severely which generally
resulted in death. He forbid witchery to be practiced or exercised for reasons of a felony and is
established as
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The Rise of the Witchcraft Craze in 17th Century Britain...
The Rise of the Witchcraft Craze in 17th Century Britain
Accusations of witchcraft date back to 900 AD, but killing following accusation reached a fever
pitch in the late 16th century Europe, and late 17th century Britain. Germany and Scotland were the
areas that were most heavily purged, with an estimated 4000 witches dying in Scotland and 26 000
dying in Germany (Gibbons). The Inquisition in Britain happened against a backdrop of new ideas
competing with established traditions which created a sense of confusion and religious hysteria
amongst the general population. A number of theories have developed from historians as to what
sparked the witchcraft craze; ideas of the Reformation and rise of ... Show more content on
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It could be conceived that this old–fashioned attitude which developed against a backdrop of
scientific development, sparked passion in the Puritan church to purge their society of witches.
Smith, the secularist historian, and therefore with perhaps a biased view, notes, "A patent cause of
the mania was the zeal and bibliolatry of Puritanism". Johnson concurs with this statement by
observing, "Above all, Puritanism was the dynamic behind the increase in witch–hunting". Part of
the Puritan belief is the creation of a 'land of saints' which meant that Puritans would actively seek
to banish evil from their communities, which in the 17th century, took the form of witchcraft.
Mainly stimulated by the Civil War, Puritanism rose in credibility and following as a religion.
Through the desire to create a 'land of saints' and with papal sanction (Papal Bull 1484), religious
believers were legitimately able to accuse any whom they felt were guilty of witchcraft.
The witch hunt itself was seen to be sanctioned by the church. The Papal Bull of 1484, and the
translation of the King James bible which featured the section "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"
(Exodus 22:18) provided the legitimisation for these attacks and meant that the general public could
hunt witches and be devoid of

Factors Of The European Witch Craze In The 17th Century
Periods of religious, social, and economic turmoil often provoke extremist movements. This is
particularly true in regards to the European "Witch Craze," an era from the late fifteenth through the
seventeenth centuries characterized by mass hysteria towards individuals suspected of practicing
"witchcraft." However, several external factors throughout Europe served to precipitate the
persecution of these individuals, a vast majority of which were female. One such factor was the
Protestant Reformation, a movement led by influential religious figures such as Martin Luther in
Germany and Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, who attempted to reform the corruption and abuses of
the Roman Catholic Church, thus inadvertently leading to the formation of Protestant religions
within the Christian faith. This act of dissent amplified religious tensions throughout Europe,
therefore intensifying religious sentiments, such as the fear of satanic worship. Additionally, during
this time period, Europe was faced with immense hardships in the form of natural disasters, famine,
war, and devastation of the Black Plague, which not only created an apprehensive environment in
which many sought out an explanation or scapegoat for their misfortunes, but significantly damaged
Europe's economic stability, thus causing people to go to extremes in order to support themselves
economically. These factors were a lethal combination, creating a general climate of terror and
doubt throughout Europe. To this end,

Witch Hunt Mania
Witch Hunt Mania – 1450 to 1750
Many innocent women happily welcomed death by confessing to witchcraft in order to end their
excruciating torture during the witch hunt craze between 1450 and 1750. Since many records were
lost, destroyed or never kept, the best estimation of the total deaths is several million (4). The main
cause of the witch hunts was the Church inflicting fear upon the common and educated man by
lying to them about what witches do and who they are. The Church also directly and indirectly
increased the pain that accused women would go through during their torture. The Church made it
clear, to all those who would listen, that all women were evil and capable of witchcraft. 'The Bible's
Apocrypha states, 'Of woman came the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(Barbara Walker)?(2). All of the victim?s estate became the property of the government as soon as
they were accused. The torture was done in such a businesslike fashion that the relatives were
charged for the victims torture and death (4). They were charged for such things as the ?ropes that
bound them and the wood that burned them. (Barbara Walker).?(2). Some methods of torturing the
accused witches into confessing were thumbscrews, whips, red–hot tongs, and the rack, this lead to
there bones being crushed, limbs severed and flesh seared. After being locked up and tortured for
days on end, most women would confess in order to die and some would also accuse neighbors and
friends hoping to end their own pain (4). Another method of determining the guilt of the accused
was to stab needles into her eyes and if an insensitive spot was found then she was considered
guilty. A Spanish church even went as far as to conform a statue of the Virgin Mary into a device of
torture. They did this by covering the front side of the statue with sharp knives and nails, then they
used levers to make the arms of the statue crush the accused against the knives and nails (Jean
Plaidy, The Spanish Inquisition) (2). Men would also brutally attack the breasts and genitals of
accused witches if they became sexually

Witch Craft Trials Research Paper
There has been a plethora of research conducted that supports the notion that witch–craft trials
occurred in Scotland primarily during the 16th and 17th centuries in England and Scotland and had
an impact on the way people chose to live their lives during this time period. Witches were seen as
people who had turned their backs on God and Christianity and entered a pact with the Devil. Due
to this belief, people were quick to prosecute potentially witches to keep the community safe.
Furthermore, there were many different elements of life that had an impact on witch–craft trials and
their outcomes, such as the state/national government, local officials and arguably most importantly,
the church. Specifically during the Civil War we saw an increase ... Show more content on
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In order to be tried as a witch, someone who believed themselves to be victimized would come
forward to the authorities. However, before a witch received a formal trial by a criminal court she
was generally identified by a kirk session. Being involved in the first stage of witchcraft trials
allowed the church to help identify 'witches' and begin the interrogation process. In order for an
individual to be tried by a criminal court the church had to seek the approval of the Privy council.
Cases with an abundance of evidence were more likely to have a trial – this is still the case today in
court cases. If the court believes there is a high success rate that the accused will be convicted they
are more inclined to bring the issue to court. In addition, the best piece of evidence in the 17th
century and today is a confession. Unfortunately during witchcraft trials confessions were
frequently acquired by illegitimate and morally reprehensible ways. As stated by Goodare "... [the
witch] had often been arrested and interrogated (typically with deprivation of sleep) to obtain a

The Puritan Religion And Belief In The Salem Witch Trials
The year of 1692 marked a time of mass hysteria and conflict within the small village of Salem,
Massachusetts; this time was known as the Salem Witch Trials. The trials plagued the village with
chaos, mystery, and accusations. As the hysterics of witchcraft rippled through Salem, more than
two–hundred people were accused and tried, one–hundred–fifty townspeople were arrested,
approximately twenty people were executed, and five others died in prison. The trials had a domino
effect on the townspeople and sent the village into a downward spiral. Since then, the trials have
become tantamount to paranoia, as almost three centuries later, they continue to beguile the great
minds of many. To this day, though there are many possible theories, and ... Show more content on
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The hysteria, craze, trials, and deaths, still rest an unsolved case. The theories of politics, rivalries,
religion and the "circle girls" seem the most believable, in my eyes. However, as the happenings in
Salem village still continue to mislead and amaze not only historians, but many others, the witch
trials lie a great turning point for Salem, and the lives of many; let alone

Women And Witchcraft In The 1600's
Women were the primary targets of witch hunts, a craze that gripped medieval Europe between the
1600's to the 1700's. Women's bodies and sexuality were repressed due to it's dangerous threat to the
medieval society. Women's bodies were tortured and mutilated to prove the authenticity of
witchcraft. The evolution of the witch throughout the 1600's to the 1800's, changed the perceptions
of elderly women and witchcraft into the modern times.
The fall of Eve in the Garden of Eden condemned women and their bodies. Women's bodies were
created for sin and were easily seduced by temptation. Women's bodies were weak and inferior to
men's bodies, for this reason they were viewed to have wanton and ravenous sexual appetites. Roper
makes this point by discussing Kramer's condemnation of women, "All witchcraft comes from
carnal lust, which is in women insatiable" (Roper 136). The feebleness of their bodies and will
caused them to make unwise decisions. One possible explanation for the divided depiction of
women could be the Madonna–Whore dichotomy. Women were seen as either virginal Madonnas or
evil whores. The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Their telling of Hansel and Gretel's heroic triumph exposed the witch to be a feeble old woman. No
longer were the elderly women in the village diabolically terrifying. The dark forest and it's
mysteries were celebrated, instead of feared gathering place for witches Sabbaths. The tale of the
gingerbread house with it's cannibal witch became a moral teaching for disobedient children. This
evolution of the witch carries on into modern times. Children around the world are read the story of
Hansel and Gretel. Their triumph as caused the witch to be likened to the monster underneath the
bed. Nothing to be scared of and certainly nothing to panic over. As Roper commented, "No longer
the death dealing harpy, the old woman was cut down to size, reduced to a bogey to frighten
children" (Roper

The Witch Craze In The Nineteenth Century
Witch Craze A woman was once looked upon as a healer, ancient persist, mid wife, therapist, cook,
sever of goddess, a positive figure, etc. As time went on, women were not seen as they were
originally portrayed. Women were eventually viewed as a witch. Each culture had a different
perception on what a witch looked like, but each represented the same thing. In essence, the witch
craze brought about the "dark side" of a female. Some causes of "witch craze" in the fifteenth
century would include hallucinations, people not wanting to be tortured and people needing
something to blame misfortune on. Firstly, hallucinations occur as a result of the induction of
hallucinogens into the blood stream. Some people have always wondered how witches ... Show
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The torture was so horrible people would do anything they could to get out of it. "I have never seen
you at the sabbat, but to end torture I had to accuse someone", this is how the witch craze grew and
spread so quickly. People would name random people to try and escape the torcher, even if what
they were saying was inaccurate. If the person that was being accused was compliant, then the
"penitent witch/witches could look forward to being strangled before the fire was lit", this would
mean getting some relief before dying. To be compliant, the person that was being accused had to
give names of people they saw at the sabbat; which means giving names they could think of off the
top their head, meaning giving names of family, friend and neighbors.
Naturally, humans are prone to blaming their misfortunes on people or things aside from
themselves. If a woman could be a healer, then it would only make sense that she would be able to
harm as well. Whenever something bad happened, like crops dying instead of blaming the weather
the towns people blamed a witch. The people in this time believed that everything ill–fated was
done by an evil presence or was deficient. For example, Robert Detweiler in his article "Shifting
perspectives on Salem witches "states "witchcraft serves an important function in explaining death
and other misfortunes". This showed that in this time, witches could be used as explanation to
satisfy the towns people belief or

She is a Witch!
The finger has been pointed; she is a witch! For people living during the renaissance, in the reign of
King James I, they were convicted to death as quickly as that.The idea of witches and witchcraft can
be traced back to the Romans. Although witchcraft was around for years there was little counts of
action against them; until the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, sixteenth century, many people
were put to death for being suspected of witchcraft. The hunt for witches all occurred because of a
theory and the ruler, King James, of the time. Witchcraft has been around since the beginning of
time, but in the sixteenth century a new theory developed off the basics of Christian theology. "This
theory was that a witch had made a deliberate pact with the devil, almost a form of a personal
arrangement, but that a witch did not act alone. Therefore if one witch existed in a locality, there had
to be more" (James I and Witchcraft). This new theory led to a total change in witch hunting. No
one person in a village could now be accused, according to the Christian theory, there always had to
be more. Suspected witches were no longer arrested and then put to death; they were now tortured
until they would confess another "witches" name. But how would they determine who was a witch
or not?
Anyone could have been convicted of being a witch, but the finger was usually pointed at, "an old,
isolated, poverty–stricken woman" (The Royal Play: James I and Macbeth). Women had little to no

Witches And The Witch Trials
In Europe from the late fifteenth to early seventeenth centuries many people, both men and women,
were persecuted as witches. The reasons for the persecution of individuals as witches included
gender discrimination, religious fanaticism, an explanation for the otherwise unexplainable events
that took place, and even as a way for secular officials to gain more wealth. Misogyny being a cause
to the witch trials may have resulted from the new roles of women in society conflicting with the
traditional views of women as sinful, and also accounts for why the majority of individuals
persecuted were women. A religious spark was ignited during the Protestant Reformation as people
became more religiously devoted and wanted to eliminate threats to their faith, such as witches.
Many strange occurrences such as disease or even non–harmful events that were simply
unexplainable led people to believe witches as the causes. Some people may have not even believed
another person to be a witch but may have just wanted wealth and that person's possessions and
declared them a witch for that reason. All these factors contributed to the period now known as the
witch craze, which resulted in the torture and death of many people.
One of the main factors in the persecution of witches comes from the men of the time's misogynistic
attitudes. During this time, women were beginning to take more prominent roles in society, like the
notable humanist Christine de Pizan or "The First Lady of the Renaissance,"

Causes Of The Witch Craze
The witch craze rapidly spread around Europe from 1480 to 1700, especially during the time of both
the Protestant and Catholic Reformation. From accusations to trials to persecution, over a million
Europeans were tried due to witchcraft suspicions. The trials were often rigged in favor of the
accusers, and torture was used as a method for confession in certains areas of Europe. The witch
craze had many contributing factors that allowed it to last for almost three hundred years. Three
major reasons for the persecution of individual witches were influence from religious superstitions
promoted by the Church, lack of advanced knowledge in science and medicine and social prejudice
against the lower socioeconomic class. Religious leaders condemned witches and spread the idea
that witches work for the devil. When higher power religious leaders acknowledged the existence of
witches and the detrimental effects of witches in society, it fostered fear among the people, which
encouraged accusation against many individuals. In Doc B3, Martin Luther says that "witches are
the Devil's whores who steal milk, rise storms...torture babies in their cradles...[and] that the Devil
is unable to do these things by himself." After Martin Luther preached about the threats, dangers,
and horrible things witches do, the European people were instilled with fear and were determined to
put an end to the spread of witches through persecution. Even Pope Innocent VIII ordered the
people that it was their

Witchcraft Article
The First article was published by The New York Times by Mitch Horowitz on July 4th, 2014.
Second article used was published by The New York Times by Nick Cumming–Bruce on February
8th, 2013 These articles gives an example of how in modern times witch craze remains. In the
article, it discusses an event that took place in Papua New Guinea. It discusses an event when a mob
of people buried a 20–year–old mother alive who they suspected of partaking in witchcraft to
murder her young neighbor. The young neighbor lived right across from the young mother when he
suddenly became ill, he was taken to MT. Hagan where he would later die. The family of the young
neighbor suspected witchcraft was to blame for his sudden illness. They questioned a pair of women
who stated it was the 20–year mother for causing this because she practiced witchcraft. The
authorities tried ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
An example shown of power being used is by the legal system. The law in New Guinea indorsed
violent behavior towards another individual. With the law being revoked it is a difficult transition
for individuals in this country to not seek justice in their own hands and village. The violence that
has related to witchcraft human rights and United refugee's states that there are thousands of
murders committed each year condemning individuals of witchcraft. In Papua New Guinean a
human rights institute, calculates witchcraft associated violence is 5 to 1 against women, signifying
that witchcraft allegations are used to cover domestic violence. This article revels that the witchcraft
hunt that began in Salm in 1690 remains in full effect. It is not just in history books, but globally it
could be fueled by superstition, environment or seeking harm on another. Nonetheless, on how this
behavior began it raises the question will the witch hunt

What Is The Witch Hunt Dbq
A few centuries ago in Europe, the fear of witchcraft led to witch hunts and executions. These
occurred mostly in France, Germany, northern Italy, and Switzerland. "Tens of thousands of people
in Europe and European colonies died," and "millions of others suffered from torture, arrest,
interrogation, hate, guilt, or fear,". It is estimated that the early modern witch trials claimed the lives
of nine million Europeans, 80% of whom were women which led early feminists such as Margaret
Murray, Mary Daly and Barbara Ehrenreich, among others, to wonder: "Was the witch–hunt an
intentional woman–hunt". Back then, women were accused of being witches since Accusations of
witchcraft required no evidence of guilt. The trials were "intended only to produce ... Show more
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Their private parts would be searched multiple times for the devil's mark, or they would have to go
through various tests to prove themselves guilty or innocent. If witch–hunters struggled to find
obvious evidence of the "devil's marks" on a suspect's body, they might resort to the even more
horrifying practice of "pricking". It was noted in many witch hunting books that the devil's marks
were insensitive to pain and couldn't bleed, so examiners would use specially designed needles to
repeatedly stab and prick at the accused person's flesh until they discovered a spot that produced the
desired results. In England and Scotland, the torture was performed by well–paid professional
"prickers". It is hard to believe that many of them even used dulled needlepoints to identify fake
witch's marks. Along with pricking, the unfortunate suspect might also undergo the scratching test.
Victims that suffered from the witch's curse were told that they would find relief by scratching the
accused person with their fingernails until they drew blood out of the accused. If their symptoms
improved after clawing at the accused's skin, it was seen as an evidence of

Witchcraft Trials And The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witchcraft trials took place in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May
1693. The news of witches began to spread in Salem when a group of young girls gathered together
in the kitchen of the Reverend Samuel Parris with his Indian slave named Tituba to experiment with
witchcraft. After these young girls began to portray unusual behavior the village doctor came to the
scene and diagnosed the girls to be possessed by the devil. The news of the presence of witches
spread throughout Salem like a craze and lead to a series of accusations and turmoil.
The Salem witchcraft trials were a collection of trials, hearings, accusations, imprisonments, and
executions that sought to get rid of the influence of witchcraft from the Salem population. The vast
majority of people who were accused of being witches were mostly women. These accusations had
more to do with the social status of these women rather than to seek to understand them. The first
hanging began with the death of Bridget Bishop in June and continued until September. The Salem
witchcraft trials included an example of scapegoating because Puritans feared that the devil was
continuously looking for ways to test their faith.
Today the term "witch" has been used in films, books, and in pop culture. In the seventieth–century,
an example of a person who was considered a "witch" was generally someone who appeared to be
involved with the devil by portraying unexplainable behavior. In Salem, the Puritans

European Witch Hunts 1350-Present Essay
In order for history to repeat itself, it has to start somewhere right? The European witch hunts can be
traced back to around 1450 and last well into the 18th century. The European witch hunts, much like
the Salem witch trials happened because of rejection of rapid social, economic, and religious
transformation. (Jones Gendercide Watch: European Witch Hunts). Often during times of rapid
change it takes a while for reforms to be made or for citizens to adjust to the new arrangement. The
result of the rejection of change during this time period was mass hysteria and moral dilemmas.
European witch hunt trials were based off of opposing views, ignorance, and used to get back at
people, which ultimately led to death and destruction, and still ... Show more content on
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While many people accepted the change that was brought during the Renaissance, many Catholic
conservatists, mostly male rebelled against the changes. Many of the ideas to persecute supposed
witches were made by people in the nobility and the papal society. The beginning of the witch–hunts
become apparent during the first half of the 15th century in south–eastern France and western
Switzerland, in communities of the Western Alps, in what was at the time Burgundy and Savoy.
(Jones Gendercide Watch: European Witch Hunts). Soon the persecution of witches spread
throughout most of Europe and extended into some parts of North America. Although in total there
were the estimated executions of40,000, with only 12,454 recorded deaths. The witch hunts reached
their peak after the biggest witch trials were held in Europe, notably the Trier witch trials (1581–
1593), the Fulda witch trials (1603–1606), the Würzburg witch trial (1626–1631) and the Bamberg
witch trials (1626–1631). (Hutton Counting the Witch Hunt). In the witch hunts most of the people
executed or accused were women. In Europe, 80% of the people brought to trial were woman, with
an 85% conviction rate, while 20–25% were male. Although the church initially started the hunt,
many of the people executed were a part of the Catholic Church. Another group of people targeted
by the witch hunts were the mentally impaired. Although

Salem Witch Hysteria
Witchcraft is the use of magical powers. Witchcraft is often regarded as "black" magic. The article
called "The Salem Witch Trials: 1692–1693" states that "[s]ince the early fifteenth century, so–
called witch panics had periodically swept across Europe, causing witch hunts, accusations, trials
and executions" ("Salem" 1). Although some children and males were accused, the greater part of
the arraigned individuals were female ("Salem" 1). A debatable amount of around forty thousand
individuals were implicated and executed as witches between fourteen hundred and seventeen
hundred and fifty ("Salem" 1). Although the causes of the witchcraft hysteria are debatable, there are
three widespread and favored explanations for the hysteria within ... Show more content on
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Spielvogel states that "Europe's longtime adversaries–war, famine, and plague–continued to affect
population levels" (Spielvogel 437). Europeans also experienced another temperature drop that hurt
harvests and led to a shortage of food (Spielvogel 437). Anxiety and anger over Europe's worsening
state led people to make allegations of witchcraft in order to explain the worsening conditions in
Europe (Spielvogel 437). To summarize, heightened tensions within small communities because of
Europe's longtime worsening conditions played a part in why there was so much hysteria over
witchcraft.
Furthermore, another cause for the witchcraft frenzy was religious uncertainty (Spielvogel 439).
There were numerous witchcraft trials in the region where "Protestant–Catholic" arguments still
fumed (Spielvogel 439). According to Spielvogel, "[a]s religious passions became inflamed,
accusations of being in league with the devil became common on both sides" (Spielvogel 439).
Additionally, another contributing factor to the widespread witchcraft hysteria was the escalating
amount of trials and executions of alleged witches (Spielvogel 437).
There are countless different assumptions about witches. The majority of individuals in the sixteenth
and seventeenth century presumed that God and Satan were real (Lambert 1). They also assumed
that "witches" were in allegiance with Satan and made a vow to bow down and serve him (Lambert
1). Furthermore, another common belief was

Witchcraft, Germany : Margaretha Horber 's Tale Of Witchcraft
Witchcraft Narratives in Germany: Rothenburg, 1561–1652, is a collection of witchcraft narrative
literature that took place in Rothenburg, Germany by Alison Rowlands. Margaretha Horber's Tale of
Witchcraft written in 1627 serves as an example of one account of a person who would be accused
of being a witch due to her deviance against social as well as religious norms. Already we see this
theme of individuals in society changing their attitudes towards another for minor infractions. As the
story goes, "Margaretha did not make the progress in religious instructions her guardians had hoped
for. On the contrary, she seemed incapable of fulfilling her pious obligations adequately." As one
may learn from this statement alone, individuals in a Rothenburg, and many other societies for that
matter, were to meet a certain standard in term of religious knowledge. Deviating from the norm
would perhaps have influenced her accusers greatly. However, as this source will illustrate, perhaps
another factor influencing her accusers was the fact that this particular society may have in fact been
experiencing turmoil. As history has often illustrated, when a society is experiencing difficult times,
it may look to a scapegoat to take out pent up frustration, or possibly to explain the difficult
circumstances. According to this source, during the Thirty Years' War between 1621 and 1631 it is
likely that Margaretha Horber's parents, who died in early 1626, fell victim to an outbreak of plague

The Catholic Church During The Middle Ages And Through The...
Beginning in the Middle Ages and through the seventeenth centuries, witch trials occurred in
Europe. Many people were accused of being witches some of these people were accused of being
witches for not following Christian beliefs at that time and others followed witch prosecutions for
goods and money. Furthermore, the stereotypes of witches at this period also had a role in causing
witch prosecutions. In this essay I argue how these three components led to the death of so–called
witches. Firstly, I will discuss how the Catholic Church had an impact on most prosecutions.
Secondly, I will explain how social stereotypes of that period have also influenced with the causes
of prosecution of many alleged witches. Thirdly, I will discuss how ... Show more content on
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It is important to understand the meaning of witchcraft to be able to identify what caused the
massive witch–hunt in Europe. During the medieval to the early modern period witchcraft was
identified as the practice of harmful, black or maleficent magic caused by a witch (Levack, 1987, p.
4). They also describe them as evildoers that associate with the Devil, kidnap children, and murder
others. These accusations were untrue rumors made by the Catholic Church to promote Christianity
and punish those who did not follow the church beliefs. (Levack, 1987, p. 7)
Furthermore, Witches were commonplace all over the world with different stigmas and stereotypes
attached to them from each respectful culture that contained them (Girard, 1986). It was not until the
rise of the Catholic Church that witches soon became associated with black magic and the Devil,
leading to mass prosecutions. In the Middle Ages there was a popular belief that demons walked the
Earth, leaving disease and devastation in their wake. The church, feeling threatened by the
ideologies of Witchcraft, decided to link the old Pagan religion with that of Satanism (Levack,
1987). By doing so, they were able to gather favor from the masses by taking advantage of the fear
of the Devil by the public and using it to prosecute those who

Puritan Beliefs And The Salem Witch Trials
Puritan Beliefs and the Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials was an event that took place in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and
1693. During this time, more than 200 residents were accused of practicing and participating in the
Devils magic better known as witchcraft. Out of these 200 people, 20 were put to death. After these
horrible events had been carried out, the colony admitted the trials were a mistake and helped
salvage the families that had been effected by the events. So why did these trials take place? It had
everything to do with the events that were happening within the Puritan community beginning in the
1300s. During this time in history Puritan beliefs and religious practices were held so high to their
community ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
On February 29, 1692, under the guidance of magistrates Johnathan Corwin and John Hathorne,
Ann, Elizabeth and Abagail accused three women for afflicting them: Tituba a slave girl from the
Caribbean who was owned by the Parris's; Sarah Good, a homeless beggar and Sarah Osborne, an
elderly woman. All three women were brought to trial before the local magistrates and interrogated
for days at a time, these interrogations began on March 1, 1692. Both Sarah Osborne and Sarah
Good claimed to be innocent, but Tituba confessed, "The Devil came to me and bid me serve him"
(Witch Hunt). Tituba states that she has seen images of huge black dogs, red cats and a huge black
man who asked her to write her name in his book. She said that she indeed did sign the book along
with several other witches who sought out to destroy the Puritans. The Puritans were eager to
believe the confession from the slave girl. Tituba's skin reminded them of the Indians they came to
hate so much. She was a dark skinned woman from Barbados, Tituba was also known for speaking
her native language and practicing her native religion. Since Tituba confessed, all three women were
sent to jail. The Puritans followed the Bible as closely as possible. The magistrates referred to one
scripture in the Bible time and time again as to see how to deal with the accused witches, "Thou
shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exodus 22:18). Since the Puritans followed

Essay about Witchcraft
Beginning in the Middle Ages and through the seventeenth centuries, an infiltration of witchcraft
persevered throughout Europe. The witch craze resulted in the torture and persecution of witches.
More than 100,000 of witches who were tried were centered in the area of southwestern Europe.
The mass hysteria of witches was denounced because of their rejection of God and their pact with
the devil, which resulted in harsh punishments and accusations. One reason for the persecution of
witches was they were thought to be the cause of bad harvests, epidemics, natural disasters, and
personal tragedies. Witches also had a part in the religious aspect of Europe. The witches were
persecuted because of the lack of a main religion, which was ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
(Document A7). Roger North, brother of Chief Justice Exeter explains that if a judge were to go
against the public opinion, then the townspeople would think he is not religious and would then
possibly be accused. (Document A6) This is an indication that people of all social classes could be
targets. In Europe it can be concluded that many had xenophobia of different people or prejudices,
but they were held mostly against older women. This is because during the Renaissance people had
fears of the supernatural and forces of nature or God, which led to the beliefs of superstition.
Therefore, the future mass hysteria of witches would be denounced based on the Renaissance views.
In the Middle Ages to the 16th century it can be finalized that the elderly, female, and poor working
class were the majority of the accused (Documents D1, 2,3). Statistics drawn from the contemporary
court records conclude that most of the suspected witches were above the age of 50 and 80% of
females were executed for witchcraft. The trials of witches were centered in southwestern Europe
because these bordering areas lacked a strong central authority and were places of social chaos.
W.Fulbecke believed that witches aimed at the destruction of others through the spread of their own
diseases to others, based on their pact with Satan (Document C1). Kramer and Sprenger were two
Dominican monks who held a conspicuous bias towards women and the elderly (Document

Images Of Witchcraft During Renaissance Culture
Images of Witchcraft in Renaissance Culture
The witchcraft phenomenon of the Renaissance period was shaped by a wide range of cultural
factors; witchcraft was not necessarily subject to a single cohesive idea or concept, and it was often
instead a conglomeration of many different societal concerns, concerns which spanned through all
spheres of society. Textual evidence from this period provides insight into the way in which witches
were conceived, and how witches were dealt with, while visual images present a companion
visualisation of the tensions, which influenced created the witch, and the imagery, which came to be
associated with witchcraft.
The 1486 Malleus Maleficarum set up the precedent for the witchcraft craze, which came to its
prime in the mid 16th century, during the Renaissance period. Though the Malleus was not the only
factor in this craze, as Margaret Sullivan notes, 'it made no discernable impact... for nearly half a
century' , it, with a number of other social factors, provided a wealth of information to witch hunts
and hunters. This treatise further established several of the basic ideas essential to the identification
of witches such as the identification of witches as largely women; through the treatise's continual
argument that women were of gullible and carnal nature the text further advocated ideas of fear and
hatred in regards to women.
As the witch–hunting period grew, the real fears and tensions which plagued all levels of society is
clear by

Witch Hunt Research Paper
The witch hunt craze that enveloped Europe and the New World from the thirteenth through the
sixteenth centuries resulted in the senseless murders of countless people through horrifying methods
of torture and execution, and all for seemingly no reason. Women constituted the vast majority of
victims of the witch hunt craze, with up to 80% of all witchcraft victims being women (Barstow,
page 7), for a wide variety of reasons that can all be traced back to one thing: the oppressive sexism
that dominated the patriarchal society of early Europe. The dominant victims of witch hunt mania
were female due to a combination of the oppressive roles that were forced upon women in early
European society, religious persecution that was largely caused by ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Much of the folk lore regarding witches involved sexual relations with demons and even the devil
himself and some rather immodest rituals that are immortalized in countless very graphic paintings,
which served to inspire absolute disgust and hatred towards the women accused of witchcraft. One
of the earliest victims of the French witch hunt was Angéle de la Barthe, accused of having sexual
intercourse with the devil himself and executed in 1275. A later French victim, Jeannette Abadie,
was brought up on the exact same charges, with an exceptionally graphic recounting of this
experience in court being the highlight of her trial (needless to say, the devil got around more than
the preacher's daughter at summer camp). She was, however, spared execution, presumably because
the judge believed she had a promising career in erotic fiction awaiting her. Women were regarded
as inherently sexual creatures– their sexuality was far more psychically apparent than men's, from
menstruation to pregnancy and birth– and were perceived as the ultimate threat to the sexual purity
of men. The Catholic Church futilely attempted to suppress sexuality and placed the blame almost
exclusively on women for the sinfulness of human nature– according to Salem, Massachusetts court
records, women who gave birth to bastard children were six times more likely to be punished for
their adultery than the father of the bastards were. Women's sexual histories were often dragged out
for the entire town to oogle during witchcraft trials in colonial New England, as their fidelity was
brought into question, alongside their ability to attract men to and to cause impotence (Legrende,
page 8). A witch's ability to cause impotence in men played a distinct role in creating the witch
panic, as men were dangerously obsessed with the idea of women holding sway over them sexually.

Examples Of Persecution Of Witchcraft
There are documented examples of persecution of witchcraft going as far back as Classical
Antiquity and the Old Testament. For example, in Ancient Rome black magic was treated as a
capital offence by the Law of the Twelve Tables . The early legal codes of most European nations
contain laws directed against witchcraft. For instance, the oldest document of Frankish legislation,
the Salic Law, punishes those who practice magic with various fines, especially when it could be
proven that the accused launched a deadly curse. All throughout history, there have always been
cases of conjures, cunning, sorcerers and witches. Normally these individuals were women, who
were believed to have supernatural powers over human beings and nature. Thus, some people ...
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The social, political and philosophical/intellectual changes I mentioned before allowed for European
societies to implement changes in law. In England, the Witchcraft Act of 1734 redefined witchcraft
so that the conventional form of witchcraft would no longer be considered as a legal offence. The
English Act of Parliament in 1736 also eradicated witch–hunts. Poland did so in 1776. The revisions
made in judiciary institutions contributed to bringing the hunts to an end. Even though the
materialization of institutional factors in every state varied, they were the ultimate reason of the
decline and end of the

Compare And Contrast The Witch Trials Of England
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Europe experienced a widespread belief in witchcraft and a
subsequent witch craze. The witch craze spread like wildfire throughout the continent and many
were hunted, persecuted, and executed for proposed maleficent acts. Economic hardships, religious
fervor, and political support helped to fuel the fire that blazed through the continent. Those accused
were predominantly women of low socioeconomic status. Life was precarious during this time
period resulting in malnourishment and rampant disease. Ignorance and a highly superstitious
population saw witchcraft as an explanation for sickness, death, failed crops, or any other
mysterious malevolent acts. As a result of the geographical separation of the British Isles, the witch
trials of England and Scotland were unique and differed from the mainland. Also, by comparison,
the witch trials of England and Scotland were very different from one another. The two cultures
differed in their accusations of witchcraft, the nature and extent of their trials, and the use of torture.
Persecution and began in England with the Witchcraft Act of 1542. Parliament decreed that
witchcraft was a crime and punishable by death. Scotland issued a similar act in 1563 classifying
witchcraft as a capital offense. During the witch trials of England, it is estimated that 500
individuals were executed for practicing witchcraft. Those accused were usually elderly, poor
females in small rural villages. They were

Witch Dbq
High numbers of executions for crimes of witchcraft in Europe primarily took place over 160 years,
from 1500 up through 1660 and finally ending in about the 1680s. During this period in time,
England reached a total of 1,000 executions for crimes of witchcraft. This is a significantly lower
number than the 26,000 deaths in Germany and the 10,000 deaths in France at this time. The
English legal system helped to significantly lower the number of executions for the crime of
witchcraft in England over the 160 year period known as the witch craze.
Before exploring the reasons that the number of executions of witches was so low in England, we
should first explore the English conceptualization of a witch. During the witch craze of the 16th to
17th

Women 's View Of A Patriarchal World
With a medieval Europe's view of a patriarchal world, the idea of women as an inferiority to men
was inevitable. However, the idea of women being "the wicked of all wickedness" (Kramer)
elevated such view into what we know as misogyny. The medieval witch trials exemplifies the
product of gender specific hatred outweighing the initial view of religious cleansing and stability.
Thus, one argues that while both men and women were accused of being witches, the driving force
behind such hysterical event was a fear or hatred of women by authorities– who were in fact mainly
men.
In the early stages of the witch craze some theologians saw the need to repress such hysteria before
it was too late. One such theologian, Saint Augustine argued that God alone could suspend the
normal laws of the universe. In his view, "neither Satan nor witches had supernatural powers or
were capable of effectively invoking magic of any sort. It was the "error of the pagans" to believe in
"some other divine power than the one God." Of course, if witches are indeed powerless, the Church
need not overly concern itself with their spells or other attempts at mischief " (Linder, 2005). But,
with the belief of the devil's agenda to tempt the followers of God into wrongdoings, the Roman
Catholics decentralized the idea of magic into two phases; that of god – which is good magic, and
that of the devil– which is witchcraft or sorcery. An outlook that Thomas Aquinas expanded on in
his work the Summa

Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch trials where for the right reason, but had the wrong way of going about it. In the
spring of 1692, 4 girls claimed to be possessed by the Devi, and said that some other women were
also possessed. With the town in an uproar, a special court in Salem was setup to trial all of the
convicted. Bridget Bishop was the first to be tried, and she was hung in July. 18 more were hung.
But, more than 150 men, women, and children were condemned. By September of that same year,
the town started to turn against the trials, and thus the Salem Witch Trials were ended. Although the
general court annulled the guilty verdicts, and granted indemnities to the loved ones, anger remained
in their hearts for hundreds of years. (History.com) But, witch craft wasn't just beginning. Witch
craft had been a belief centuries before. Centuries before the trials, many Christians believed that
the Devil could give people called witches power to harm others, if the witches were loyal.
(smithsonianmag.com) In Europe, from the 1300's to the end of the 1600's, a "witch craze" was
going on. Many believed to be witches were executed, tens of thousands. Even though the Salem
Witch Trials were at the end of the "witch craze" in Europe, local happenings caused it to happen.
(smithsonianmag.com) What didn't help was the war in 1689. English rulers started a war with
France and the colonies. When they attacked the colonies, many people fled to Salem. With so many

Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials
The witch trials in Early Modern Europe were a widespread moral panic, suggesting that Satanic
witches were working as a threat towards the Christian Faith during the 16th to 18th centuries.
Those accused of witchcraft were portrayed as being worshippers of the devil, who took part in acts
such as sorcery at gatherings known as Witches' Sabbaths. Many people were accused of being
witches, and were put on trial for the crime, with punishments varying from time period to region.
Some of the earliest recorded trials are from the Late Medieval Period, following Pope Innocent
VIII's papal bull, Summis desiderantes affectibus, which recognized the existence of witches, and
gave full approval for an inquisition against them. The peak of witch hunting was between 1580 to
1630, during the European wars of religion. Witch hunting began to decline in the 18th century,
culminating with the British Witchcraft Act of 1735.
An estimated total of about 40,000–60,000 people were executed during the witch trials, the most
notable of these trials being the North Berwick witch trials, Torsåker witch trials, and the most
famous of all, the Salem witch trials.
Various suggestions have been put forward that suggest that the witch trials emerged as a solution to
the socio–political turmoil of the Early Modern World. One form of this is that the trial and
execution of witches was a response to a disaster that had been inflicted upon a community, such as
a poor harvest, war, or an outbreak of

The European Witch- Hunts During The Middle Ages
Witchy Ladies: The European Witch– Hunts During the Middle Ages in the 1700s, there was a
witch craze throughout Europe. Witches were reported, tortured, and punished. Roughly 100,000 of
them were put on trial, many of whom were tried in southeastern Europe. As several Europeans of
this era were Roman Catholics, witches were perceived as having connections with the Devil.
Because of this, the three major reasons for the execution of witches were religious beliefs, social
prejudices, and personal disputes. Even though Europe was split after the Reformation, both
Protestants and Catholics were still uniting against a common enemy– witches. Both churches,
especially the Catholic, felt under attack by this craze. Especially, because "where ... Show more
In addition, Pope Innocent VIII sanctioned a Papal Bull, Summis desiderantes, to acknowledge the
existence of witches and to give the sanction of the Church to the popular beliefs concerning
witches. By the Pope acknowledging this existence, he added to the hysteria and although
Protestants did not view the Pope as their religious leader he was still an extremely powerful leader.
Because of how widespread Catholicism and Protestantism was in this time, and how the highest
ranking religious officials, Martin Luther and Pope Innocent VIII, acknowledged the actual
existence of witches, the craze caused chaos throughout Europe. Socially, Europe as a whole held
quite a few prejudices against older, widowed women. In W. Fulbecke 's "A Parallele or Conference
of the Civil Law...", W. Fulbecke writes that the "bodies of aged persons are impure...". He
continues to say how they are "apt for contagion... by the Devil whetted for such a purpose." In
addition, statistically, the "Age of Suspected Witches" was around 60 (Source 7). In the story from a
licensed midwife, she testifies, "she had become a widow, she cut corn for Hans Schlumperger...
they convened that they should...meet in her... dwelling... it was not the said bondsman who
appeared unto her, but the Evil One [the Devil]" (Source 5). The witch hunt was biased towards
older, widowed, or childless women. 82% of witches in southwest Germany who

Persecution Of Witch Essay
The Corruption and Prosecution of Witches Through the fifteenth to the eighteenth century many
components of society overlapped in witchcraft. As political, economical, and religious standings
became unstable the witch craze grew exponentially, becoming an industry. Typically older women
were accused as witches due misogyny and stereotypical uselessness. The persecution of witches in
modern Europe was caused by blame, religious ideology, and personal and industrial gain. As
problems manifested in Europe so did the need for a scapegoat. As children died at a higher rate and
colder climate caused bare harvests, women responsible for these issues were blamed. From the
beginning at the Garden of Eden women were depicted as problematic and expendable. Instead of
confronting their own repulsive morals, humans blamed the Devil and witches for their wrongs. By
creating a system in which men could violate religion with blame on the Devil's presence, people
were inclined to both break laws and believe in witches. Older women in particular had nothing left
to offer civilization, thus constructing the perfect, undefendable victim. With this dogma of witches,
it was easy to condemn others for faults no human could control. The so–called proof of women
related to the Devil was continuously written by men, demonstrating misogynistic views. ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Authors expressed that if one did not believe in witches they not believe in the Devil which meant
there was no God; therefore, if one did not believe in witches they did not believe in God. Christ
incited that demons once on earth can return and must die. Both Protestants and Catholics believed
in the word of God, thus forcing them to accept the stated accounts of God. Most Europeans were
concerned with their own salvation, which would encourage them to believe in witches to ensure
their belief in God and safety from purgatory. (Documents: A,6;

Witchcraft as Misogyny
The society during the 14th–16th century viewed women as unimportant compared to men, which
led to the belief that women were witches.
Act of oblivion "Women and Explanations for European Witchcraft Beliefs in the 16th and 17th
Century." (2003) The journal "Women and Explanations for European Witchcraft Beliefs in the 16th
and 17th Century," debates whether witchcraft was a tradition or part of everyday culture. James
Sharpe believed that witchcraft was a part of everyday culture during that period. People targeted
others for revenge or said they were a witch because they were an outcast. Anne Laurence argues
that Christian and secular prosecution developed common tradition of witchcraft by popularizing a
belief neither of Sharpes ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many of the sources I've read talk about women giving up their religion for the devil. This source
talks about men being involved and I can relate that to how witchcraft isn't always seen as
misogyny.
Katz, Steven. "The European Witch–Hunts, c. 1450–1750." www.gendercide.org. "The European
Witch–Hunts, c. 1450–1750" by Steven Katz describes witch–hunts and how females played a huge
role as victims. This journal proves that not only were most women accused of being women but
they were also the victims. The author of this journal brings up data and information to back up his
theory that women were the victims because people were afraid of women having to much power.
This journal is a good article for anyone researching witch hunts and the impact it had on females
and why.
"Medieval Sourcebook: Witchcraft Documents (15th Century)" N.P., N.D. Web. 29 January 2013.
The "Extracts from the Hammer of Witches" discusses the methods people used to torture witches.
First, the jailors prepared torture. Second, they stripped the witches of their clothing because they
believed that witchcraft was sewed into their clothing. After that they tortured them if they didn't
confess. When they were done torturing they pulled the witch aside to see if they would confess yet.
They would make them believe that if they confessed they would not be put to death. This source is
important because I've read a few things about "The Hammer of

Macbeth And Witchcraft Essay
Witchcraft in England and Macbeth "Witchcraft and witch–hunting in early modern Europe are
among the most written about, yet most elusive, of historical topics." This statement was made by
Jim Sharpe, about the topic that I will be going over in this paper. So in it, we will be discussing
witchcraft in England in the early 17th century. It will talk about a few of the reasons why the witch
craze began, what exactly went on during that time, and how it relates to Macbeth. We will explore
certain terminology about witches that some may be unfamiliar with, such as different names for
witches and even their alleged companions. When the outbreak of witchcraft first started, no one
really believed that witches were the cause of anything going ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Some people believed that familiars could change forms, between animal and human. This is also
where black cats get their bad reputation because it is believed that most familiars were black cats,
when in fact they can be any animal that is seen as a regular household pet. Witches riding brooms
also come from beliefs of witches being involved with the devil in any way, shape, or form. The
brooms symbolized the devil being with the witch at anytime. This belief could have come from the
Christian church's involvement of witchcraft, however they also focused strongly on demonology
(Sharpe), most likely believing witches to be a type of demon that needed to be vanquished from the

Comparing the Salem Witch Trials, European Witchcraft...
Comparing the Salem Witch Trials, European Witchcraft Craze and the McCarthy Hearings
The evidence of witchcraft and related works has been around for many centuries. Gradually,
though, a mixture a religious, economical, and political reasons instigated different periods of fear
and uncertainty among society. Witchcraft was thought of as a connection to the devil that made the
victim do evil and strange deeds. (Sutter par. 1) In the sixteenth, seventeenth, and twentieth century,
the hysteria over certain causes resulted in prosecution in the Salem Witch Trials, European
Witchcraft Craze, and the McCarthy hearings. These three events all used uncertain and unjustly
accusations to attack the accused.
The Salem witch trials in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Neighbors accused neighbors of witchcraft, and the fright was mounting. (Sutter par. 4) The accused
were mostly women, and to make them confess, different methods of torture were used. The
confessions and trials of the accused witches were nonsense. Often, torture would continue until the
victim had no choice but to confess of being a witch, and most of the confessions were forced. Trials
and hangings continued and by the early autumn of 1692, doubts were developing as to how so
many respectable people could be guilty. The educated elite of the colony began efforts to end the
witch–hunting hysteria that had enveloped Salem. Increase Mather then published a work entitled
Cases of Conscience, which argues that it were better that ten suspected witches should escape than
one innocent person should be condemned. This urged the court to exclude spectral evidence. With
spectral evidence not permitted, the remaining trials ended in acquittals and all the convicted and
accused witches were let out of jail in May of 1693. By the time the whole witchcraft incident
ended, nineteen convicted witches were hanged, at least four accused witches had died in prison,
and one man, Giles Corey, had been pressed to death under rocks. About one to two hundred other
people were arrested and imprisoned on witchcraft charges. The witchcraft accusations in Salem had
taken the lives of at least twenty–four people.
In Europe, death by accusations of witchcraft

Witchy Ladies : The European Witch Hunts In The 1700s
Witchy Ladies: The European Witch– Hunts During the Middle Ages in the 1700s, there was a
witch craze throughout Europe. Witches were reported, tortured, and punished. Roughly 100,000 of
them were put on trial, many of whom were tried in southeastern Europe. During the height of the
witch hunt, the Reformation started which had an immense impact on the witch craze. Both
Protestant and Catholic followers contributed the craze by their notions of the Devil's powers.
Furthermore, with the Reformation and the witch craze occurring at relatively the same time period,
the religious insecurity only added to the height of the witch hunts. As several Europeans of this era
were Roman Catholics, witches were perceived as having connections with the Devil. Because of
this, the three major reasons for the execution of witches were religious beliefs, social prejudices,
and personal disputes. Even though Europe was split after the Reformation, both Protestants and
Catholics were still uniting against a common enemy– witches. Both churches, especially the
Catholic, felt under attack by this craze. Especially, because "where the Catholic church was
weakest, experienced a virulent craze (i.e., Germany, France, Switzerland). Where the Catholic
church was strong (Spain, Italy, Portugal) hardly any witch craze occurred..." (Source 1). This was
the first major threat to the church's authority. In addition, where the Protestants and Catholics were
busy fighting each other barely any witch trials

Essay The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692
The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692
The Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, which resulted in 19 executions, and 150 accusations of
witchcraft, are one of the historical events almost everyone has heard of. They began when three
young girls, Betty Parris, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam began to have hysterical fits, after being
discovered engaging in forbidden fortune–telling (not dancing naked in the woods) to learn what
sorts of men they would marry. Betty's father, the Reverend Samuel Parris, called in more senior
authorities to determine if the girls' affliction was caused by witchcraft. Although Betty was sent
away fairly soon, and did not participate in the trials, the other girls were joined by other young and
mature
women ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Whereas in the past everyone in a locality had followed the same religion, people were now exposed
to Christianity and the local religions of people who had moved to their region, or whose regions
they had moved to. In the cities of central and southern Africa, many local religions and Christian
sects could be found, as well as Islam. Belief in witchcraft tended to unite people across religious
differences. Typically, the names brought to witch finders were those of the same sort of local
enemies we have become familiar with in reading about the Azande. As the frenzy increased, people
began to be accused who had not aroused any particular jealousies, possibly because they possessed
a peculiar bag or horn, which might be said to contain "medicine" – in one reported case, such a
container did indeed contain "medicine" but ordinary physical medicine, not magical substances.
These crazes tended to die down, often after considerable conflict and property damage, and the
witch finders would then move on to the next town. As witchcraft accusations still occur in the area,
we can conclude that the movements did not get rid of witches forever, nor, unlike the situation
Salem or Europe, did belief in witchcraft itself actually end with the witch crazes.
The actual execution of witches was not usually a feature in African witchcraft, so there was
probably less to repent in the end, though there

What Triggered The Witch Craze?
Joseph Bohannon
Dr. Wirts
History 4342
January 28 2017
What triggered the witch craze? Most historians agree that the witch craze began in the 15th
century, during the early modern period. However, many factors that contributed to the witch craze
had been brewing for several centuries prior, in as early as the 12th century we see the persecution
of heresy by the Medieval Inquisition, which is basically a large–scale model of religious groups
suppressing and killing anyone who does not agree with them, or speaks out against them. This
similar type of rational is seen happening in Colonial America: men, women, and children who were
educated, and spoke out against the social norms were labeled as witches and targets of hate crimes.
The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Word of mouth was their most effective way of sharing information until the printing press was
created, this invention revolutionized how information could be shared throughout the world, books
were able to be mass reproduced and able to reach places that word of mouth may not have able to,
but as is the case with most good things, evil people can use good things for bad. Large amounts of
books were published that outlined the existence of witchcraft, stating that they were demonic
influences involved, and offering ways for people to deal with it, as well as many embellishments.
Some such publications were the Fomicarius (NIDER), Flagellum Haereticorum Fascinariorum
(JACQUIER), De Lamiss (MOLITORS), and The Hammer of the Witches (MALIFICARUM).
Publications like these perpetuated the hysteria into what we know refer to the witch craze/ which
trials.
The witch craze in Europe was at its height during 1560–1630, some of the most notorious trails that
were held were: the Trier, Fulda, Basque, Wuzburg (mostly children were accused), and the
Bamberg witch trials. In 1590 King James VI of Scotland got involved with the witch craze, he had
developed such a fear that he would have nightmares of witches killing him. The King ordered that
anyone suspected of witchcraft would be brought before the royal court. One such person that was
suspected of being a witch was a nobleman named Francis Stewart who was the 5th Earl of
Bothwell, who later fled the country fearing for his

Ergotism And The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials began in the spring of 1692 when a group of teenage girls had claimed to be
possessed by the devil and accused different members of the community of bewitching them. As
word of the devil and his witches spread through the community, a special court convened. This
ultimately jailed and accused almost, if not more, than 300 people and sent nineteen of those people
to their graves. What was the main purpose for the Salem Witch trials? Upon doing much research,
there are many different ways that this question could have been answered. Some of the answers to
the question of what the main purpose for the trials are poisoning, tension, and the way the
investigations were held. The three different topics are main reasons on why ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Fourteen women and six men had been accused; this soon had led to the hanging of each and a mass
witch–hunt to find more just like them. By the end of the trials, there were at–least over 150 men
and women taken and put in prison for the simple reason that someone had blamed them, either for
wrong doing or because they were different than others in the community. The inquisitors of the trial
had denied burial to the deceased as they were accused of witchcraft, which according to their
religion was not "godly". From Rebecca Nurse – a woman accused– "I can say before my eternal
father that I am innocent and God will clear my innocence." (Pelka 1) This quote shows that she
pleaded her innocence and that her conscience was clear. The people of Salem were very religious
and they held a person to their religious standards, which means if someone didn't act or speak a
certain way, they simply didn't belong. A group of girls had been accused in the beginning of the
witch trials, as they began to experience fits that no one had ever seen before. When taken into
custody, the girls had begun to be questioned. At first they didn't answer, but upon more
questioning, they started to accuse many local men, women, and even children of witchcraft. Soon
followed the arrests of citizens and more questions had followed. This soon turned into the largest
witch–hunt in known history. Most people that were accused had "bad

Paganism In Europe
Witches; healers of nature, clear souled, sisterhood, and enchantress. The views of what a witch
used to be, has changed dramatically due to a drastic shift from positive to a horrendously negative
view in Europe. For instance, these negative views are still impacting people's interpretations today
of what a witch represents, for example the image associated with witch craft of an old hag or the
assumptions that they practice Devil worship. I myself practice a form of witchcraft, and have been
ridiculed, called satanic and constantly experience negativity around my practice especially from
Christian individuals who do not understand any other religion than their own due to the belief that
the Christian religion is the only way to salvation. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The "Goddess Mary" is well known in the Christian aspect but not known in the Pagan aspect. The
"Goddess Mary" was a shrine for Pagan women and the Christian church diluted her power and
formed her into a Christian appropriate woman, only stripping women's power and beliefs further.
Christianity both symbolically and literally began to remove the importance of the Pagan religion
and the power women had within the community, thus resulting in the beginning of how women in
general and wise healing Pagan women were viewed in

Essay On The Salem Witch Trial
One of the more infamous events of the seventeenth century, the Salem witch trials marked a low
point in Massachusetts Bay Colony history. According to Deodat Lawson, as many as 70 villagers
of Salem were accused of witchcraft in June of 1692. The vast majority of these were women
(approximately 78 percent, according to Elizabeth Reis), but the most telling information lies not in
the accusations themselves. Rather, the identities of the accused shows that the witchcraft craze
originated from preconceived notions about women, including their predisposition to sin, as well as
how they should behave in society. A common belief brought over from Old England was that
women were more susceptible to sin than men. This was supposedly due to them ... Show more
Tituba, known as one of the first to be accused, was believed to be the Indian slave of Reverend
Samuel Parris, and was perhaps the most well known among the accused. Even then, very little
information is available about her. All that is known for certain is that Tituba was a servant,
probably of Barbadian origin, that, upon confession, accused several other villagers. This, of course,
resulted in a positive feedback loop of the accused persons naming even more witches, who would
probably then accuse even more, should they choose to confess. The large number of confessions
was due in part to the attitudes women had towards sin; they were generally "more convinced that
their sinful natures had bonded with the devil." Once they confessed, the accused were pressured to
name others who had signed a pact with the devil, as "everyone wanted to believe that witches
flourished in Salem." An interesting event in the history of America, the witchcraft craze of Salem
questioned the Puritan values of society, as well as women's roles. It's possible that, due to their
widespread impact, the Salem witch trials formed a basis on which complete religious freedom
would eventually be

Elizabethan Witchcraft Act Essay

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Elizabethan Witchcraft Act Essay