Overview

• Pope John XXII declares witchcraft a heresy 


  1326
• Large scale witch-hunts in the Alpine region 


  1420s
• Pope Innocent VIII declares witchcraft an exceptional crime


  1484
• First publication of Kramer's Malleus Maleficarum 


  1486
• Martin Luther's 95 theses (origin of the Reformation)


  1517
• Large Scale witch - hunts across Europe

  1560 - 1660
• Sceptical Voices

  Minority of contemporaries challenged the prevailing view of the danger posed by witches. Individuals like Johann Weyer and Reginald Scott denounced the preoccupation with witch-hunting with rational arguments. Were in the minority and is risked heresy charges.
• The Great Witch Hunt (summery) 1560-1660


  One hundred year period that saw the most intense outbreaks of Witch persecutions. Large scale persecutions were evident between 1562 - 1630 in South and South Western Germany. Intense witch hunts in Scotland from 159--97 under James VI. Large hunts in Lorraine in the 1580s and 1590s.
• Course of witch - hunting 1480-1560 (limited impact)(summery)

  Sporadic Witch-hunting in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. 1480-1520 were the most intense in this early period, with a Dominican source saying 100 people a year killed in the Como region alone. Settled period from 1520 - 1560 perhaps due to the threat of Protestantism and Heresy. Limited witch-hunts still in the Swiss Cantons,the Netherlands and Denmark.
• Significant variations in the intensity of the hunts (summery):

  • some areas closest to witch hunts were unaffected or saw little action
  • small Catholic states within the Holy Roman Empire saw the most trials and executions in relation to population
  • numerous Catholic areas which weren't affected by witch hunts - Ireland
  • witch hunting ceased in some areas like Spain and the Netherlands by 1600
• End of the Witch Hunts (summery)

  Declined in Western and Central Europe after 1660. Emerged in North America and Poland
• How many people are believed to have been executed for witchcraft?

  approximately 100, 000
• How many are believed to have been murdered in German territories?

  25 000
• Where did other witches die (if not executed)?

  through the torture or conditions in the gaols they were kept in
• Black Magic


  Harmful magic that deals with the occult
• White Magic


  magic that dealt with good deads such as crops growing. Known as Cunning Folk
• What did the early church react to the idea of witch craft and how did this change?


  They believed it was Pagan superstition b it changed due to the notion of a devils pact and Heresy
• Heresy 


  Belief contrary to authorised teachings i.e. going against the Catholic Church
• What groups were treated as heretics?

  Cathars, Waldensians and Lollards
• When was witch craft declared a heresy by Pope John XII?


  1326
• Inquisition


  tribunal set up in the 13th century by to preserve Catholic supremacy
• Before the 15th century, witchcraft was dealt with in church courts, and was rarely seen as a true crime. Rarely executed. But in the early 15th century, satan worship and the devil pact was introduced into the idea of Witchcraft
• In 1569 how many witches did one author claim were in Europe?

  26 billion
• What was believed to be indulged in the sabbat?


  Sacrificing children, orgies, sex with the devil, feasts, dancing naked
• incubi


  male demon
• succubi 


  female demon
• Being possessed by a demon was less serious than witchcraft as it was seen as involuntary
• In 1484, what did Pope Innocent VIII say about witchcraft and what did it cause?


  it was an exceptional crime, which meant unlimited torture was allowed
• How were the new attitudes in the church spread to the wider population?

  Literature - printing press
• What was the influential book published in 1486 called?


  Malleus Maleficarum
• Who wrote the Malleus Maleficarum?

  Mainly Heinrich Chramer
• What gender prejudices were in the Malleus Maleficarum? 


  Women more likely to be witches
• What was the third book in the Malleus Maleficarum about?


  how to prosecute witches
• Why is it difficult to assess the impact of the Malleus?


  Hard for it to be the only reason for an increase as there were other factors
• Whose attitudes did the Malleus Maleficarum mostly affect?


  Those who already believed in witches
• Who wrote 'On the Demon Mania of Witches' in 1580?


  Sean Bodin
• Who was Nicholas Remy and what did he write in 1595?


  Judge from Lorraine and he wrote 'Demonolatreiae'
• What was the most popular book on witchcraft in the 17th century and who created it?

  Six Book of Discussions on Magic by Martin Del Rio
• Maleficium 


  harm committed by magic, and the charge originated from below e.g. communities blaming neighbours
• Diabolism 


  Devil worship and the charge came from the elite