Witchcraft+Craze

Nick Evans

"Analyze at least TWO factors that account for the rise and TWO factors that explain the decline of witchcraft persecution and trials in Europe in the period 1580-1750."

Thesis: Between 1580-1750, events such as disaster, misogyny, and religion account for the rise in witchcraft persecutions, while new scientific discoveries and religious ideas explain the decline.


 * Rise **
 * disaster
 * Black Plague
 * lasting and devastating effects
 *  death and famine
 * Little ice age
 * large drop in temperatures
 * famine, disease, failed crops, and dead livestock
 * People needed a scapegoat
 * blamed witches (for the ideas had been around prior to this time period)
 * accused of sorcery and evil tricks against humanity
 * tortured until confession
 * Religion
 * Witchcraft grew and became associated with the devil
 * heretical and must be eliminated
 * //Malleus Maleficarum//=standard handbook for Centuries on witch hunting
 * result of Pope Innocent VIII's claims of the Devil's influence
 * Religious conflicts at the time (Reformation)
 * caused religious fervor to increase those^ beliefs (above)
 * Misogyny
 * 80% of persecutions were of women
 * usually lower class and elderly
 * as beggars, the made easy targets
 * //Malleus Maleficarum=//states women are inferior to men mentally and physically
 * direct connection
 * women=weak and vulnerable, open to Satan's carnal influence and superstitions
 * Decline**
 * Science/Enlightenment
 * Universe governed by laws (Newton, Galileo, etc)
 * reason leads people to believe that its Not evil spirits or Satan
 * Women's views
 * Astell
 * encourage education and equality in marriage
 * Religious ideas
 * end of warfare
 * 30 years war ends 1648/59
 * religious tensions begin to subside especially in Germany
 * enlightened Rulers
 * many advocated religious tolerance
 * decreased religious passions

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