HSTR 385A Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Inquisitorial System
7 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Germany was very politically fragmented many many many tiny states: many courts who expected musical entertainment huge achievements/diversity in german music in the 18th/19th centuries. Some countries converted to christianity very late: lithuanians were the last europeans to be christianized. Pagan until 14th century: estonia was not dominated by christianity until the 13th century, *catholic church tended to treat pagans as witches. Clergy took a very negative role in witch trials: encouraged persecution, preaching often at the root of witch panic, however did develop a concern about the potential abuses of the inquisitorial system and torture. Widespread understanding that ecclesiastical courts couldn"t impose capital punishment: different secular courts responsible for persecuting witches, even in small, ecclesiastical communities. Most common method of executing witches was burning: same as heretics continuity from period where persecution of heretics was more common. Witches often considered to be just another version of heretics: burning was considered a purification of the community.
