What did the phenomenon of the "Witch Craze" in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries say about society of the time? How far have modern societies changed?
             It is without a doubt that the phenomenon of the "witch craze" of the sixteenth and seventeenth century was a fallacious product of it's misogynistic, theocratic society. Little evidence exists that the witch in any form of devilry existed, lending credibility to the theory that the whole ordeal was in fact manufactured by certain orders to achieve its goals, the persecution, submission, intimidation and marginalisation of women, and those who were perceived as a threat to the patriarchal-Christian dominated society. This "witch-craze" is commonly viewed as one of the most inhumane and injudicious phases of human "development" in time. Unfortunately for the human race, the development of technology, science and a discerning common sense has done little to change the hysterical and paranoid "gang mentality" and the unrelenting persecution of those who are different. Even in modern times, the dominant groups within society are compelled by fear and greed to crush those groups who are different in ideology, race, political or religious philosophies or ways of life. This is seen in many contemporary examples, but especially prominent in the phenomenon of "McCarthyism" of "Red Scare" in the 1950's in the USA.
             The persecution of witches in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was a widespread phenomenon across the whole of Europe, spreading to it's colonies in the America's. The witch trials or burning times was a time of political and social upheaval. Many historians have chosen to apply theories of single causation, including religious upheaval, economic instability, environmental factors, state building and social control. ( These single causation theories are sound but cannot stand alon...