RLG100Y1 Lecture Notes - Satanism, Inquisitorial System
Document Summary
Detailed look at witchcraft trial northern germany. Understanding of legal system in europe during witchcraze. Legal procedures have influenced the witchcrazes: procedures/trials tended to spread (learned elites into general population) tended to involve charges of sorcery and malificium charges involved diabolical witchcraft (demonic involvement) Temple anneke was tried her for sorcery, her acussers convicted her for diabolical witchcraft. Execution and trial public so general population would learn about connection of diabolism to common sorcery, would then heighten fear of witchcraft: procedures themselves generate and multiple accusations (did not happen with temple anneke) Once an accusation was accepted by court, focus turned to reviewing evidence to determine quality and determine reliability of witness testimony. If court reaches guilty verdict, gets defendant to confess freely to charges they previously denied. In set of questions: are learned ideas of witchcraft being group activity. If do not confess freely, will try and get defendant to confess under threat of torture.
