They’ll get you and your little dog, too Witches & Witchcraft They’ll get you and your little dog, too

Background Information Most people lived in small villages & had to fight nature to survive People held beliefs in spirits populating the world Both good & bad spirits Religious conflict spread through Europe Reformation questioned the Church Made people feel like they needed additional protection from the Devil & evil

Wise men & women Wise men/women were able to interpret signs & warnings Offered remedies (potions, chants, spells) Could be considered ‘good witches’ or ‘bad witches’ Witch hunts were particularly church driven because witches were seen as a threat to church power/authority Church declared their “magic” the only legitimate form of magic & those who practiced outside of the church did so for the Devil

Who were accused witches? Between 1400-1700 70,000-100,000 sentenced to death for harmful magic & witchcraft 80% women Peaked between 1570 – 1680 35,000 killed (29,000 women) 4 out of 5 were in Germany The accused witches were usually high profile A lot of midwives  associated with deaths of mothers & children Rich or poor, popular or unpopular Single women, 45-60, Those who were in need of security Many would confess to avoid death after being tortured

Accusations People were afraid that witches were taking over the land, killing children and livestock Those who accused witches often claimed they saw the accused associating with the Devil Accusations would increase if harvests were poor, if weather was harsh, if money or food was scarce, or if the plague hit

Why women? Misogyny Women were starting to create their own independent identities & that was scary for men & the Church Malleus Maleficarum Part 1 Question VI She's a witch!

The Malleus Malificarum The Witches’ Hammer published in 1498 Used as a handbook for successfully identifying & killing witches Detailed witches appearance, behavior, alleged Satanic rites, and familiars (black cats, etc.) Divided into 3 parts 1: Why there are witches 2. What witches do & how to stop them 3. Legal proceedings against witches & heretics

Punishments Punishments included: The witches collar (inward spikes against the throat) Ducking Pressing The Strappado (tying hands behind a person’s back, lifting them up by the wrists above a ceiling beam & then dropping them several times until joints are dislocated) Turcas (designed to rip finger nails out) Stoning Red hot pinchers (used to tear off bits of flesh)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!