The Spread Of Witchcraft During The 16th Century

Witchcraft is referred to as magical rituals (contagious magic) which are intended to cause misfortune or inflict harm to others. (Robbins et al. 2015:115). Witchcraft was a trend which spread very quickly during the 16th century in Europe. Many anthropologists argued that human social dilemmas have led to the fear of witches. In the European time, witches were often alleged to devour supernatural power which allow them to turn into an animal or have magic “familiars”, which also the beliefs in the evil eye. (Koning, 2013:159). Early anthropologists assumed that the need of individuals to explain misfortune, release misfortune, release tension, or vent hostile feelings against close relatives or neighbors was the explanation for people’s belief
Firstly, the most distinctive features of witchcraft descended from the earlier beliefs which now took on an entirely new and drastic intensity. For instance, it was believed that witches had sexual relations with the devil and that this was a source of any of the evils attributed to their sorcery (especially their power to cause infertility) (Ross, 1995:334). According to Sawyer, “the great majority of witchcraft accusations were the response of alleged victims to threat on their health.” (Ross, 1995:334). This now raised a question regarding how the witchcraft accusations on women can be the result of a certain disease or disorder, which led them to act like witches. (Ross, 1995:336) As an evidence, an older solitary women who were accused of witchcraft – such as Walpurga Hausmannin were described miserable, lewd, and general antisocial for Johann Weyer; the court physician the Duke of Cleves, to suggest as early 1566 that many witches are simply mentally ill. Ross acknowledges that Syphilis had spread widely over the mid-16th century, and has also attacked every level of society, from beggars (male and female) to nobles and princes (Braudel, 1967:46). The main pattern of syphilis, that probably emerged towards the mid-16th century could help to account for the increasing intensity of fears about women, especially those related directly or indirectly to female sexuality
Witchcraft beliefs on this society have led to the political and economic background (Koning, 2013: 160). With the improvement of commercialization and urbanization, the beliefs in witches weakened and their replacement was relieved; this was a gradual shift from individual switches to the focus on predatory landlords, and entrepreneurial ethnic minorities who “suck the life force out of the people ,” to the financial or communist conspiracies, or even abstract entity such “the system.” (Koning, 2013:159). Furthermore, Koning links that in Europe the change was from a feudal society with well-understood certitudes about class and status which is achieved through education, wage employment, cash cropping, entrepreneurial, political and religious activities, class divisions have begun to appear and become institutionalized (Gluckman 1965). According to Koning, “the main reason of witchcraft practices in the agricultural societies were, the increase capital assets and the group size followed by the introduction of new tools which widened the scope of wealth accumulation, as a result, increased envy between people.” Despite to the fact that, an agricultural society was affected by the witchcraft, hunters and gathers weren’t affected by the witchcraft phenomenon. The main reason was the isolation of Hunters and