Europe: Witch Craze (1480-1700)
Witch craze in Europe during the period of the Protestant Reformation, Catholic
Counter-Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the consolidation of national governments from about 1480 to 1700
In the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries, individuals were persecuted as witches throughout the broad continent of Europe, even though the witch hunt was concentrated on Southwestern Germany, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Poland, and parts of France. Over 100,000 witches were persecuted; everyone was affected by this egregious hunt for individuals whom were in league with the Devil. In a collective frenzy, witches were sought, identified, arrested, mostly tortured, and tried for a variety of reasons. This essay will identify three major reasons for the witch craze in early modern times.
First of all, everyone was in some way involved with the persecution of witches; all were directly affected, either through being persecuted themselves or by persecuting others. Witches were commonly known to cure people and animals of sickness, bewitch crops, and eat or suck the blood out of people and infants.
When people were accused, they were always found guilty; if you were found guilty, you were killed. Witches were killed in several different ways such as being burnt at the stake, hanged, or drowned. If you did not confess to the actions you were accused of, you would be tortured brutally until you admitted your wrong doings. "It was a loose-loose" for the accused individuals. People would often accuse other individuals of witchcraft because they had disagreements or issues; it was a way for individuals to eliminate competition. The executioners were very wealthy, and their wife's dress and appearance would be as sophisticated as that of the wives of gentlemen. In addition, individuals would force witchcraft on people until they did something that was in the least bit of the Devil.
Secondly, the opinion of religious leaders had a tremendous impact on
Counter-Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the consolidation of national governments from about 1480 to 1700
In the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries, individuals were persecuted as witches throughout the broad continent of Europe, even though the witch hunt was concentrated on Southwestern Germany, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Poland, and parts of France. Over 100,000 witches were persecuted; everyone was affected by this egregious hunt for individuals whom were in league with the Devil. In a collective frenzy, witches were sought, identified, arrested, mostly tortured, and tried for a variety of reasons. This essay will identify three major reasons for the witch craze in early modern times.
First of all, everyone was in some way involved with the persecution of witches; all were directly affected, either through being persecuted themselves or by persecuting others. Witches were commonly known to cure people and animals of sickness, bewitch crops, and eat or suck the blood out of people and infants.
When people were accused, they were always found guilty; if you were found guilty, you were killed. Witches were killed in several different ways such as being burnt at the stake, hanged, or drowned. If you did not confess to the actions you were accused of, you would be tortured brutally until you admitted your wrong doings. "It was a loose-loose" for the accused individuals. People would often accuse other individuals of witchcraft because they had disagreements or issues; it was a way for individuals to eliminate competition. The executioners were very wealthy, and their wife's dress and appearance would be as sophisticated as that of the wives of gentlemen. In addition, individuals would force witchcraft on people until they did something that was in the least bit of the Devil.
Secondly, the opinion of religious leaders had a tremendous impact on