HISTORY 40A Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Humorism, Spectral Evidence, Tituba
26 Oct 2016
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The devil in the shape of a woman. Witches did bad stuff, warning that something wrong in society. Two cases: lydia gilbert of connecticut, salem, massachusetts: 19 people died, god against satan. Associated with women: did harm, contract with the devil. Locked in a cosmic struggle b/w god and satan (the devil) Witchcraft provided the explanation for events that were otherwise inexplicable. Humans try to find explanations for the natural world. True for ministers and theologians with years of bible study. True for farmers concerned with the day to day practical matter of running a farm. Witchcraft provided one source for explaining odd or scary occurrences. ** back in the 17th century, magic/science/religion are closely intertwined/interplayed. Hoof and mouth disease: separate the sick from well, bury a bull in the crossroads upside down. Circulation system: discovered in 17th c, not accepted until later. Stiles death must have been a topic of conversation.
