HIS243H1 Lecture : Witch Hunts
Document Summary
Witch hunt in e. m. europe: emerging stereotype. Religious beliefs held very deeply therefore any departure from these beliefs is taken very seriously. Witches seen as a threat to the whole body of society which is what makes them so dangerous. However this was not always the case, earlier it was believed while witches could be a nuisance, they weren"t too much of a both, and there could be such thing as a good witch. In the late 14th and early 15th there was a developing fear of witches. Strong sense that the demons are out there and that they are a real threat. This idea is coming from some key sources. Malleus maleficarum (1486) written by two dominican monks and experienced inquisitors. It is a guide to identifying and successfully prosecuting witches. It explains what it dangerous about witches and how the law should deal with them.
