The history of witchcraft is a complex and multi-faceted journey that reflects the evolution of society’s beliefs, fears, and misconceptions. The Routledge History of Witchcraft is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary study of the belief in witches from antiquity to the present day, providing both an introduction to the subject and an examination of its origins in Europe’s history. Witchcraft refers to the belief in the perpetration of harm by persons through mystical means. The history of witch persecutions during the European Inquisition and other historical events spans from antiquity to the present day, from Massachusetts to Muscovy.
The book delves deeply into its context, beliefs, and origins in Europe’s history, with a focus on the witch’s prominence and often painful death in early modern Europe. The scholarly study of the history of witchcraft began with Wilhelm Soldan’s study of witch trials in the mid-nineteenth century. The book includes over 750 articles that examine the history of European witchcraft during the period of the so-called “witch-craze”.
A Brief History of Witchcraft explores the history of witchcraft, magic, and superstition through the centuries. Early witches were people who practiced witchcraft, using magic spells and calling upon spirits for help or change. The book also tackles common misconceptions about witchcraft and the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Routledge History of Witchcraft is a comprehensive guide to understanding the practices of witchcraft from their inception to the present day.
📹 Ancient Mysteries: DARK HISTORY OF WITCHES (S4, E5) | Full Episode | History
“Ancient Mysteries” is a series of one-hour documentaries exploring archaeological, historical, and cultural mysteries of the …
Is witchcraft in the Bible?
The Hebrew Bible, specifically the Tanakh or Old Testament, contains laws prohibiting various forms of witchcraft and divination. These laws can be found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Exodus 22:18 prohibits tolerating a sorceress, Leviticus 19:26 prohibits eating anything with its blood, and Leviticus 20:27 condemns a person or woman with a ghost or familiar spirit to death. Deuteronomy 18:10-11 prohibits anyone from consigning a son or daughter to the fire, being an augur, soothsayer, diviner, sorcerer, spell-caster, or one who consults ghosts or familiar spirits. These laws emphasize the prohibition of such practices and the consequences of such practices.
What is the sin of witchcraft in the Bible?
Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26, Leviticus 20:27, and Deuteronomy 18:10-11 all prohibit the practice of necromancy, divination, and soothsaying. These laws are portrayed as foreign and are the only part of the Hebrew Bible to mention such practices. The presence of laws forbidding necromancy proves that it was practiced throughout Israel’s history.
The exact difference between the three forbidden forms of necromancy mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:11 is uncertain, as yidde’oni (“wizard”) is always used together with ob (“consulter with familiar spirits”) and its semantic similarity to doresh el ha-metim (“necromancer” or “one who directs inquiries to the dead”) raises the question of why all three are mentioned in the same verse. The Jewish tractate Sanhedrin distinguishes between a doresh el ha-metim, a person who would sleep in a cemetery after starving himself, to become possessed, and a yidde’oni, a wizard.
In summary, the prohibition of necromancy in the Hebrew Bible is a significant aspect of Jewish history.
What is a very brief history of witches?
Between 1482 and 1782, thousands of people across Europe, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft and executed. Witches are often associated with evil and transgression in fairytales, fantasy, and satire. However, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, people of all social statuses believed in their ubiquity as a deadly threat to life, livelihood, and divine order. The large-scale persecution, prosecution, and execution of witches during these centuries was an extraordinary phenomenon that has spawned many myths and inaccuracies.
The actual numbers are far lower, but still striking: between 1482 and 1782, around 100, 000 people across Europe were accused of witchcraft, and 40-50, 000 were executed. Historian Ronald Hutton reveals that the witch has been a symbol of fear across the globe for over 2, 000 years.
What is the history of the witchcraft accusations?
From 1400 to 1775, around 100, 000 people were prosecuted for witchcraft in Europe and British America, with between 40, 000 and 60, 000 executed. The witch-hunts were particularly severe in parts of the Holy Roman Empire. Prosecutions reached a high point from 1560 to 1630, during the Counter-Reformation and European wars of religion. Lower classes usually made accusations of witchcraft by neighbors, and women made formal accusations as much as men did.
Magical healers or “cunning folk” were sometimes prosecuted for witchcraft, but seem to make up a minority of the accused. Around 80 of those convicted were women, most over the age of 40. In some regions, convicted witches were burnt at the stake, the traditional punishment for religious heresy.
Throughout the medieval era, mainstream Christian doctrine denied the belief in witches and witchcraft, condemning it as a pagan superstition. Some argue that the work of Dominican Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century helped lay the groundwork for a shift in Christian doctrine, where certain theologians began to accept the possibility of collaboration with devils, resulting in real supernatural powers. Christians were not of the belief that magic in its entirety is demonic, but witchcraft was still assumed as inherently demonic, leading to backlash against witches.
How did witchcraft start in America?
The term “witchcraft” originated with European colonists and their views on supernatural powers, which were later adopted by Indigenous communities. The Salem witch trials in Massachusetts and other witch hunts in the United States exemplified European and Christian fear and hysteria surrounding accusations of witchcraft. Despite changes in laws and perspectives over time, accusations of witchcraft persisted into the 19th century in some regions, such as Tennessee.
The influences on witchcraft in Latin America impacted North American views both directly and indirectly, including the diaspora of African witchcraft beliefs through the slave trade and suppressed Indigenous cultures adopting the term for their own cultural practices. Neopagan witchcraft practices such as Wicca emerged in the mid-20th century.
Native American communities, such as the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Delaware, Hopi, Miami, Natchez, Navajo, and Seneca, have historically defined witches as evil-doers who harm their own communities. Witches are traditionally seen as criminals, and witchcraft is a crime punishable by death, if nothing else as a last resort. While some communities have passed laws outlawing vigilante killings, traditional views of witches and witchcraft have largely remained the same into the 20th century and through to the present among traditionals.
What is a Native American witch called?
Hillerman employs the term “witch” to characterize the activities of Native American individuals, frequently designated as Navajo wolves or skinwalkers, who are also recognized in certain Native American traditions.
What is the history of witchcraft?
Witchcraft in Europe dates back to classical antiquity, with accused witches often women who were believed to have used black magic or maleficium against their community. These accusations were often made by neighbors and social tensions, and were believed to be thwarted by protective magic or counter-magic. Suspected witches were often intimidated, banished, attacked, or killed, and were often formally prosecuted and punished. European witch-hunts and witch trials led to tens of thousands of executions.
Although magical healers and midwives were sometimes accused of witchcraft themselves, they made up a minority of those accused. European belief in witchcraft gradually dwindled during and after the Age of Enlightenment.
Indigenous belief systems also define witches as malevolent and seek healers and medicine people for protection against witchcraft. Some African and Melanesian peoples believe witches are driven by an evil spirit or substance. Modern witch-hunting takes place in parts of Africa and Asia. Today, followers of certain types of modern paganism self-identify as witches and use the term witchcraft for their beliefs and practices.
Which type of person was most likely to be considered a witch?
Witches were often considered women who enjoyed independence, as they were considered worrying elements of the established social order. The spectrum of witches varied, including women alone, single, widows, poor, old, foreign, melancholic, and healing women. Many witches were women who acted with independence and were prepared to defend themselves. In England, women who knew how to swim were considered witches, as the water rejected them.
Witches were often women of peasant extraction and poor, working for the community and working classes. Healing women were often from comfortable social situations, and midwives were another sector that suffered persecution during the witch-hunt. Midwives were accused of witchcraft due to the belief that birth had magical qualities, and they had special powers due to their knowledge of birth mysteries.
The institutionalization of medicine in universities meant that obstetrics remained the only area related to medicine and health reserved for women. However, this was snatched from them in the nineteenth century. Women were excluded from the practice of medicine until the figure of the nurse appeared at the end of the nineteenth century, especially with Florence Nightingale. The nurse appears linked to the role of women as carers, completely subordinated to doctors.
Who were the 19 witches of Salem?
In 1692, nineteen accused witches were hanged on Gallows Hill. The accused included Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Good, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, Sarah Wildes, George Burroughs, Martha Carrier, John Willard, George Jacobs, Sr. John Proctor, Martha Corey, Mary Eastey, Ann Pudeator, Alice Parker, Mary Parker, and Wilmott Redd. The executions took place on June 10, June 10, and August 19, respectively.
Who was the first witch in the Bible?
The Witch of Endor, a Hebrew figure from around 1020 B. C. E., was known for her unusual power, possessing a talisman to summon the dead. At King Saul’s request, she summoned the ghost of the deceased prophet Samuel, despite the king’s prohibition of necromancy and magic. The prophet’s spirit predicted Saul’s ruination, and her taboo power has been depicted in art, literature, and popular culture, making her a potent figure in biblical history.
What is the true story of the witches?
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 involved over 200 people accused of practicing witchcraft, with twenty executed, most by hanging. The trial was the only state-sanctioned execution of its kind. Dozens suffered under inhumane conditions, including torture and imprisonment without trials. The tragedy of the trial is largely due to the failure of the court and laws during that time, which made visions, dreams, and spirits’ testimony permissible evidence.
The court accepted flimsy accusations, which would seem laughable today. The trials occurred just as Europe’s “witchcraft craze” from the 14th to 17th centuries was winding down, with an estimated tens of thousands of European witches, mostly women, executed.
📹 Witchcraft: Crash Course European History #10
During our last several episodes, Europe and the European-controlled world have been in crisis. Wars, disease, climate changes, …
I’m surprised you didn’t mention Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld, 17th-century anti-torture activist and author of the book “Cautio Criminalis” that argues that torture of alleged witches is not only immoral but does also not produce truth. The book is still very relevant today – just replace “witches” with “terrorists” and you get a convincing line of argument against the use of torture to fight terrorism.
“The lines between Christianity and paganism have never been bright or clear” Today, here in Galicia we celebrate the San Xoán, in my town we have covered the front doors of our houses with plants and flowers with the preminence of the “espadanas” and “fiuncho”. And on this night i will gather with my friends around a bonfire to drink some beers and wine (that we will pour on a trash bin,that we bought on a chinese shop, around 20 liters) and celebrate on this solstice of summer… From christianity it only has the name of a saint, the espirit of this day it’s completely pagan and it´s by far my favourite of the year. We will burn the old stuf that we acumulated in our homes through the year, in this night while we burn the old and welcome the new i am going to drink a beer while wishing you for bright new days.
VILLAGER #1: We have found a witch, might we burn her? CROWD: Burn her! Burn! BEDEVERE: How do you know she is a witch? VILLAGER #2: She looks like one. BEDEVERE: Bring her forward. WITCH: I’m not a witch. I’m not a witch. BEDEVERE: But you are dressed as one. WITCH: They dressed me up like this. CROWD: No, we didn’t — no. WITCH: And this isn’t my nose, it’s a false one. BEDEVERE: Well? VILLAGER #1: Well, we did do the nose. BEDEVERE: The nose? VILLAGER #1: And the hat — but she is a witch! CROWD: Burn her! Witch! Witch! Burn her! BEDEVERE: Did you dress her up like this? CROWD: No, no… no… yes. Yes, yes, a bit, a bit. VILLAGER #1: She has got a wart. BEDEVERE: What makes you think she is a witch? VILLAGER #3: Well, she turned me into a newt. BEDEVERE: A newt? VILLAGER #3: I got better. VILLAGER #2: Burn her anyway! CROWD: Burn! Burn her! BEDEVERE: Quiet! quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a witch. CROWD: Are there? What are they? VILLAGER #2: Do they hurt? BEDEVERE: Tell me, what do you do with witches? VILLAGER #2: Burn! CROWD: Burn, burn them up! BEDEVERE: And what do you burn apart from witches? VILLAGER #1: More witches! VILLAGER #2: Wood! BEDEVERE: So, why do witches burn? (pause) VILLAGER #3: B–… ’cause they’re made of wood? BEDEVERE: Good! CROWD: Oh yeah, yeah. BEDEVERE: So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood? VILLAGER #1: Build a bridge out of her. BEDEVERE: Aah, but can you not also make bridges out of stone? VILLAGER #2: Oh, yeah.
I’m kind of disappointed that there wasn’t much attention given to the treatment of witchcraft (or the persecution of it) from a social perspective (as opposed to the religious and gendered ones offered here). Most spates of witch trials occurred at times of great strife such as the Thirty Years War or War of the Three Kingdoms of course but most other accusations of witchcraft often furthered a specific social gain on the part of the accuser. Like in the Stalinist purges, or during the White/Red terrors in the Spanish Civil War later on people would accuse those whom they didn’t like or had a land/inheritance dispute with. One case in Lancashire had a boy called Edmund accuse multiple people of being witches and warlocks in order to further his father’s business interests. Scottish witch trials which are very well documented show this to be a clear pattern beyond the usual gender based interpretation and show witchcraft to be more simple than it often van seem from a modern perspective. Another overlooked area is the rate of conviction which given the modern view that the mere accusation of witchcraft was a death sentence it wasn’t unheard of for people to be found innocent of witchcraft.
There was also the Witch of Endor, who is actually a pretty neutral figure in the Bible, more a harbinger of certain calamity than a negative force in her own right. On top of that, the “suffer not a witch to live” line can be more literally translated from Hebrew as “suffer not a poisoner to live,” as someone who had knowledge of things like poisonous herbs and was putting them to use against their own community was understandably considered too dangerous to have walking around.
Interestingly enough Heinrich Kramer wrote that book after he tried to bring a woman to trial for witchcraft in the city of Innsbruck, yet aparently pretty much all representatives of all estates rejected his claims and ‘evidences’ . A commission initiated by the Bishop of the diocese of Brixen found out he pretty much ignored every law method at the time regarding how to aquire evidence or testimonies, so the trial was quickly suspended and the bishop order Kramer to leave his diocese immediately and not return. Maybe he got so angry that he has lost that trial that he focused his anger in his book?
Hey, love this episode, but I’m a little surprised that this examination of witchcraft in Europe didnt put too much time into the political dimension of this issue. Looking at Joan of Arc, she was indeed executed by the English, but was later vindicated by the French. Both trials were highly political and tied up in the factionalism around the Hundred Years War. And that’s just one example – most witch trials focused on marginalizing and taking away power from a percieved threat to the reigning political order.
“The line between Christianity and Paganism has never been crystal clear.” Certainly not in Cuba, where African gods are still worshiped in a religion called “Santeria,” which means “worhsip of saints.” As in many other Catholic places, black slave hid their worship of African Saints be associating them with certain slaves, and eventually came to believe that the Gods and the Saints were one and the same. One older black woman told me that if I were to study Santeria with her (about which she knew a lot) she would prefer that I first convert to Catholicism. To her, they were one and the same (and she practices other African based religions, too.)
It’s really scary how many parallels there are between witch-hunting in the early modern period and the suppression of reproductive rights today. I’ve heard and read a bit that suggests that quiet women with knowledge of herbs and healing were targeted as they would have been the most capable administrators of contraception and abortifacients. I wish that was addressed in the article, but I’m really happy that Crash Course is making articles like this, i.e. ones that don’t just dismiss any discussion of the supernatural or arcane and instead dig into how conceptions of the unknown are tied into fear and struggles for power. Really looking forward to in depth discussions of the Scientific Revolution and Age of Enlightenment.
Hey Crash Course: I love your series on European History, but I’ve been trying for years to find good resources on the history of other continents. Mostly Asia and Africa. Africa has so many different cultures and there’s been a lot of change. China and India have existed longer than any other countries on Earth. Could you guys please do episodes on the history of the rest of the world? And make them just as detailed? Those events still shaped our lives today. Thanks!
It wasn’t just the English who wanted rid of Joan . The French arm of the church . The Dauphin . ( Nobody likes to be upstaged by an illiterate young peasant girl ) . And quite a few others who had been made fools of, or slighted by her . One way or another she had to go . The French ecclesiastic authorities found her guilty and handed her over to the secular authorities to carry out her sentence . At that moment in time it happened to be the English .
The Malleus Maleficarum has two authors. There was an inportant political and financial background to the witch hunts as well. It also wasn’t just older women, but also young ones and girls. Men, too, were accused, particularly when owning interesting bits of land! The land and goods of the people who were killed played an important role. It wasn’t all “fear of the devil” 🙂 And do no forget that the torturers got their rocks off too.
An interesting figure in the European witch trials is Johann Weyer (or, in his native Dutch, Johannes Wier), a physician who was among the first to speak out against torture and the persecution of witches. In 1563 he published ‘De Praestigiis Daemonum et Incantationibus ac Venificiis’ (‘On the Illusions of the Demons and on Spells and Poisons’). Jean Bodin actively argued against his publications.
There is an old Korean saying that goes something like “Novice Shaman kills the Patient” suggesting Experienced Shamans don’t kill patients. Obivously, they knew Shamans don’t really have any real medical knowledge. Experienced Shamans could tell if the patient is going to recover from his illness, or not. and if they see there is no chance for the patient to survive, then they change their act accordingly.
I had a black cat whose name was Luke ( short for Lucifer) which turned out to be prophetic (does that make me a witch?) because he did turn into a very nasty tempered little beast who would chase and fight the neighbour’s dog. But that aside, regarding the witch burnings, I’d be interested to know if that era has had a long term, unconcious impact on how we have raised our daughters to be demure, agreeable & to not draw attention to themselves too much, so that women who do not conform are subject to all kinds of sanctions, pretty much everywhere.
I love crash course but here are a few corrections / missing stuff: – Krammer (the author of the Witches Hammer) was kicked out by local authorities in Brixen. They thought of him as an old, fanatic, pervert. Out of frustration he wrote the “Witches Hammer”, which only became popular ~100 years later – The Constitutio Criminalis Carolina was in effect since 1532. It was imperial law and would have prevented many if not all executions because it asked for real proof. However, no one cared – States didn’t like it when their tax payers were burnt. Strong states saw fewer witch hunts. – Midwives often appear in court to test if the witch was pregnant (then she could not be tortured). Midwives were just as often accused as other women were. – The persecution of the heretic group of the “Waldensians” who were believed to worship the devil (they did not) probably were the forerunner of witchcraft ideas. These ideas came together in the council of Basel in 1431 to 1449. In this area Waldensians were persecuted at the same time. – The Spanish Inquisition forbid to use the witches Hammer in 1532. They stopped all witch trials in Spain, because if a witch is burnt, the devil wins. Instead, they burnt Muslims and Jews. – There were many people arguing against the persecution of witches. Most prominently the Dutch physician Johannes Weyer. His argument was: Women are weak, senile and not able to make contracts (also not with the devil). Witches are just confused by the devil and should be treated nicely.
Okay, that was cute. I’m perusal this… as a modern day pagan… while I work on a figurine I made of Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) Alter, a character based of the real saint, from a serie called Fate. Fittingly enough, Jeanne as “Alter” (altered Jeanne) is evil, and nicknamed the “Dragon Witch”. Clicking on this article made my life meta. Also, I highly suggest you guys getting into the Fate series (mostly known with Fate/Stay Night). But avoid the OG anime. Go watch Fate/Zero, the Fate/Stay Night : Unlimited Blade Works. You’re welcomed. (Also, if you are into mobile gaming, get Fate/Grand Order. Good luck rolling Jalter tho.)
Honestly i’m not it was worth it to do a full episode on witchcrat in europe when this crash course serie is skipping a lot of really important event in european history (italian wars ??). I mean not that trials and execution of witches was not a thing but it was still really rare. it’s still realy prevalant in popular (inquisition, burning at the stake, torture…) culture but when you look at what modern historians says about the scale wasn’t that important. Between 1450 and 1750 the 80 000 to 100 000 trials resulted in more than 50% aquitals and only 30 000 to 40 000 executed, if compare to other events than appened in a shorter timespan like the 30 years war (minimun 4 millions death)… I understand why they made this episode because they took the angle to talk about the life and position of women in europe througout this serie and explore the roots of the sexism and patrichachy of our society. But i think they should have picked another histiorical event ( less ingrained collective psyche) to expose that, in order to have a more accurate crash course.
I remember being taught in college that while the women were more likely to be witches, the concern for men was that they could be necromancers. What I don’t understand/remember is 1. how this conclusion was reached, and 2. why witches were perceived as the more important threat. Does anyone have any information about this?
Flying carpet? There’s a story about an indigenous American who was called Lobaska he did this and was very respected around Ohio, when the lake was different and they used there docile mammoth for provision. Anyways I am looking for the flying carpet theory to be shown and explained, and where those people come from, my wildest guest would be India. If mr. green is reading this, I thank thee for the marvelous work you are doing with your team, it’s so much fun to just open up and understand your articles. Ps. Can you explain sculptors, Isopi, origin, 1700-1812 Cheers!
The fact that women who lived on the outskirts of town (maintained social distance) and were considered to be knowledgable pillars of communities regarding health and medicine (healthcare workers, midwives, doctors andnurses) causes concern due to the rise of hangings, torture and burning at the hands of men shortly after the black plague (COVID). The influence of the church was wildly influential, as I would argue it is today, as well, considering the popularity of Christian Youtubers who adhere to laws of the old testament and have rising concerns around and ‘new-age’ practices that include minor things like homeopathic remedy tea, for which Susan Cox-Powell was accused by her church shortly before going missing and being killed by her husband killed their two children. This isn’t an issue of the past at all. Thank you very much for conveying history as accurately and fairly as you were able.
Never forget the black legend guys. In the Spanish inquisition, we know of about around 5000 deaths. In the witch trials, at least 50.000 (10 times more for Christ’s sake) people were burnt. Check the numbers on Wikipedia if you don’t believe me. So next time someone tells you about the inquisition, please lecture them accordingly.
The witch trials raise an interesting question: suppose witches are real, like their spells work (I know Wiccans and Satan worshippers exist. I’m talking about people who can cast spells, like buying legal things, burning them, saying magic words, and that directly causes a real person to die). Should they be tried for a crime?
I don’t usually comment on YouTube articles, and it makes me sad that it’s to leave a negative one, especially since I’ve thoroughly enjoyed so many of the Crash Course and vlogbrothers articles. But this article veers so off the rails when it claims that all the people accused of witchcraft were women (at least refers always about the people accused as she or women), when actually AT LEAST a quarter, and some recent studies even suggest that majority, of the people accused of witchcraft were male. Even in Salem, where the majority of the accused were in fact female, there were males among those accused. In fact one of the most famous among them, because of his last words “more weight”, was Corey Giles. Sexism, especially historically, is a fact, and thus this kind of misrepresentation only hurts the case against it by giving ammunition to modern day sexists. Yes, a big part of witch trials can be attributed to asserting social control, but a large part was also about using them for neighbor, land and property grievances (much like in Afghanistan or Iraq where innocent people are sold out to the U.S. forces even today on the guise of terrorism trials). For example the reason why Corey Giles chose being crushed to death during questioning (the crushing wasn’t his sentenced execution) without either claiming innocence or admitting guilt, was that if he would have been found guilty, his property would have been confiscated, and his wife and children would have been left with nothing. Although in the end his sacrifice helped very little, as his wife was soon accused as well.
You talk about torture as if it were specific to witch trials. It’s my understanding that during this time period, torture was used in all criminal trials. Naturally, this was a backward and ignorant time and thankfully no justice official today would ever try to force a suspect to confess if that would risk a forced confession to something they didn’t do.
**The witchcraft chapter in history is a good example of the ‘ Hollywood influence’ on younger generations Americans. There have been made dozens of movies and T.V series on those few people who died in the Salem trails, So it’s not so strange so many kids in the U.S believe the Salem trails being the ultimate witch trail in global history . Not even knowing about the tens of thousands who where burned & hanged in Europe.
wow that was total madness, but what seems curious to me is the explosion of which hunt during a specific period, the reformation period, and especially in protestant and puritan lands, cuz if i remember correctly the pope was opposed to torture or burning witches but the inquisition was ruthless, and although Catholic them selves they wont listen to the pope… for me it was a way for the Inquisition/protestants to impose a religious rule by terror, feeding off the popular fear from plagues and wars (something that was widespread) and accusing individuals who they seem dangerous, it could be political opposition, popular figure (healers or nurses)… basically anyone opposed to them .
No it’s true … See Peidmont Valley the Catholic Church in the 1400’s – 1600’s accused my ancestors of witchcraft and they were tortured and killed because they refused to attend mass … That is why the Pope visited Turin to asked forgiveness … You can find these stories on you tube … See Waldensians And Israel of the Alps
To go further on some aspects of this article’s topic I’d highly recommend Silvia Federici’s “Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation”, an easy read where the author explores ties between the massive European and American witch-hunts and the rise of capitalist values, rational scientific theories, the enclosures’ phenomenon and the sexual division of labor.
Which was a generic term for asking and also changing and deciding. Ese Witch is that witch and also b is the phrase for switch. Imagine the women who are tired of the araki of the Catholic church and then the Reformation comes and are told of freedoms only to find out set these freedoms are the same as a Catholic church but on the smaller level still holding them at a lower level, without any rights. So they change again and are called witches. Also they new levels of science sometimes more advanced than the males who exported them in that manner as well. hence the lethality and also the taking of property from former wives. As some Protestants were faithful others or just explaining it to kill their way to wealth but by murder. Which even back then was a crime. It was the Medieval version calling someone a spy, but the reality was that it was more on Broad so as to eventually be able to control a gender population. Not all Protestants were bad but unfortunately some of were naively conned. For all the faults of the old church now you know why we couldn’t change but we changed enough and we change enough. We called them sisters and they were of the old Olympic fé… then Roman… all the while protecting passionate gypsies…. as well as the Gentiles Fréy… and mighty Judean into India and Africa and back… Anyways, this is what we get trapped princesses from Queens Kings and Princess having to be rescued by Brave Heroes. You notice I separate the distinction between princes and heroes.
Part of me thinks that either Witchhunters hate old women or the fact that female who live beyond the age of 50 are rare to the point that such thoughts are inconceivable (or worse assuming that such people used sorcerous means to live beyond that age). Edit: And maybe inspiration for Monty Python and the Holy Grail’s witch scene.
There are a lot of stupid things in history that I just can’t wrap my head around. Often you’ll come across new information that recontectualizes everything to be more believable and sympathetic, because yeah, it really was a different time. But this? I don’t even want to try to see things from their perspective. I want to go back in time and slap these people.
I love crash course… the thing I don’t like: pretending like a misconstrued and confused version of Christianity created by those who seek to control a population is ALL of Christianity. I totally believe that good and bad spirits interact with everyday events… that doesn’t mean I don’t believe that goes hand in hand with science. I think that science need to stop trying to be a way to disprove the spiritual realm. It can’t. Instead, allow it to be what it is: a way to observe the natural world around us. Just because evil people did evil things and used Christianity’s name doesn’t mean that people who actually love Jesus and believe in the TRUE bible are like them. Christianity looks like Jesus, not like some whacko who likes to kill women.
As this series continues I’m starting to be rather upset by the complete lack of mention of Jews, especially as victims of the Inquisition and religious persecution, despite the fact that every other victims of such are thoroughly explored; and despite the fact that the Spanish Inquisition persecution of convert Jews was one of the foundation of modern antisemitism as racial discrimination rather than purely religious. It’s like Jews aren’t at all part of the history of Europe, according to this series.
There was another thing that was Interesting about the time… Wars, and how many Men had died and gone. It left many women at home. ALONE.. And the few MEN left, had Kinda worried about How many women it would take to TAKE OVER the area.. then the NEW testament, and the availability of the bible to be read by All.. And changed and augmented..
Sylvia Federici’s Caliban and the Witch has a really interesting chapter about the relationship between what people saw as witchcraft and what European colonialists claimed indigenous religious practices were. Which is another interesting way the economic, imperial, and religious changes of this period all intersect
Slight correction towards the end: sexism absolutely can and has been used for systemic persecution using power dynamics, but note that that is not just regular sexism but largely systemic sexism. Sexism very much can and has been used against men as well as women in every day society for thousands of years, but many men throughout history have used the power they had to bring sexism against women to a larger scale. It is also worth noting that though the witch trials of Europe and North America mainly affected women, many men were also blamed, tortured and killed due to accusations of witchcraft, though not nearly on a scale as large as that of the women killed for a crime that most people today know doesn’t exist.
One thing I don’t understand is why everybody’s fine with Kiki’s Delivery Service portraying a witch as a cute little children character. I find that insulting to all the women who died from the accusations of withces. But I guess that’s cool, because everybody’s such a weeb. I’m just saying, if westerners took a japanese concept with dark history and adapted it as a children content, people would be mad.