Popular Culture

What changes influenced attitudes towards “a woman’s place” and proper role in the 16th – 17th centuries? How (and why) did expectations and attitudes change over time? What were the major reasons for persecution of individuals as witches from the late 15th to the 17th centuries?

The Witch Craze The witch craze lasted from about 1480 to 1700. This was the period of the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the consolidation of national governments. Witches were persecuted in most of Europe, but the trials were concentrated in southwestern Germany, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Poland, and parts of France. The total number of accused witches who were tried exceeded 100,000. Torture was used to extract confessions in many areas, but not in others; in England the trials were generally conducted without the use of torture.

Contributing factors Confessions Socio-economic conditions Changing view of Community charity vs individualism & business Poverty & vagrancy Education & medicine (apprenticeship vs university) Women’s role & nature “unnatural women” Population explosion  scarcity of food Political Conditions Identification of monarchs with the “true religion”  paranoia re: religion (doctrine of divine right etc) Monarchs use religion to secure their power / control  demonization of religious minorities as subverting society (treason, immorality) Supported by beliefs of authorities