The witch craze of the 1600's
Are there such things as a witch? If the answer is yes, then what do they look like? Where do they live? In what way are they different from the modern day illusionist or magician? If the answer is no, then explain why nearly the entire population of Europe was convinced that witches existed for more then a century so much so, in fact, that a section of their written laws was devoted to the steps for discovery and prosecution of witches ? If you were to ask the average individual in North America what they new about witches, they would probably mention something about the Salem witch trials that took place in Massachusetts during colonial America. The fact of the matter is that the twenty witch burnings that took place in Salem in 1692 pale in comparison to the witch craze that engulfed Western Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries . If the entire population of a continent believed in witches, then it is unquestionable they do exist, or at least did exist, right? One logical way to accurately answer these questions is to examine books pertaining to the controversial subject of witches. The two books chosen for this investigation provide both a macro and a micro perspective on the European witch craze. Jo
This is evident in the political, religious, and social attitudes expressed in these two books. That time period saw a constant struggle, involving everything from great wars to minor disputes and boycotting, between two religious factions: the Catholics and the Protestants . Continuing to focus on A Case of Witchcraft, Rapley conveyed that it was not only these political issues that convicted Urbain but rather that a combination of both political and social factors was the key to the guilty verdict. To fully understand the scope of these arguments, an appreciation of the importance of religious beliefs of the time must first be conveyed. Along with these fanatical religious views, the European person also had to survive through food shortages, economic depression, famine, and a plague as destructive as the Black Death that decimated local populations wherever it went . This led the aforementioned person to conspire with other high officials in order to obtain personal revenge. It is because of this association with the devil, that witches were labeled as being against God or 'heretics'. Therefore, according to Klaits, the preoccupation with the eradication of heretics spawned by the religious reformations was the foundation for the witch-hunt craze . It was during these private investigations that Grandier was accused, never in the midst of other people at the nuns' public exorcisms. Some of the second sources used by both authors were related books to the subject of witchcraft, and historical archives. Trincant could not admit that Grandier was the father due to the social impact it would have on his house, so Philippe was quickly married off to cover up the potential scandal. It was because of this connection that the witch-hunt erupted during the outlined time. On the other hand, Klaits described how the religious mindset of the population as a whole led to witch paranoia on a grand scale. These reformations, orchestrated by both Catholic and Protestant parties, led to many accusations, convictions, tortures, and killings of people labeled to be against the predominant religion or 'heretics' . One of the key elements that separated these respected books from each other was the method of presentation.
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