HIST1083 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Salem Witch Trials, Early Modern Europe, Gender Role
Document Summary
9. 29. 16 superstition & witchcraft in early modern world. Broad tendencies to jump to superstitious reasoning to explain natural disasters and such: not a lot of education, stigma stays with family if seen as a witch. Early modern social norms: rigid hierarchy: nobles, clergy, peasants/tradesmen, dominant religious ideas: community morality, marriage, salvation, heresy. Heresy is the broad idea of going against the official teaching of the church spreading these ideas. Those who are married are seen as being highly moral those who are not are seen as odd and reason for suspicion: gender stereotypes: women are weaker, inferior, hysterical, discreet. Listen and respect male superiors: triple vulnerability: poor single female. You"re pretty much screwed: 1450-1650: 150-255,000 tried for witchcraft. Women"s daily life: more female orphans, marriage key, dowry protperty or moneth tha makes the woman more attractive for a man to marry her, no inheritance male heir only, limited jobs paid less (domestic service, farming, mother, etc.
