Witches And The Witch Trials - 1887 Words

In Europe from the late fifteenth to early seventeenth centuries many people, both men and women, were persecuted as witches. The reasons for the persecution of individuals as witches included gender discrimination, religious fanaticism, an explanation for the otherwise unexplainable events that took place, and even as a way for secular officials to gain more wealth. Misogyny being a cause to the witch trials may have resulted from the new roles of women in society conflicting with the traditional views of women as sinful, and also accounts for why the majority of individuals persecuted were women. A religious spark was ignited during the Protestant Reformation as people became more religiously devoted and wanted to eliminate threats to their faith, such as witches. Many strange occurrences such as disease or even non-harmful events that were simply unexplainable led people to believe witches as the causes. Some people may have not even believed another person to be a witch but may h ave just wanted wealth and that person’s possessions and declared them a witch for that reason. All these factors contributed to the period now known as the witch craze, which resulted in the torture and death of many people. One of the main factors in the persecution of witches comes from the men of the time’s misogynistic attitudes. During this time, women were beginning to take more prominent roles in society, like the notable humanist Christine de Pizan or â€Å"The First Lady of the Renaissance,†Show MoreRelatedWitches And The Salem Witch Trials1272 Words   |  6 PagesHistorians called this period the dark time when men and women hunted for witches known as the Salem Witch trials. European descents brought them the belief in witches and the devil. These beliefs that they believed in so much were from the teaching of the catholic church. During the seventeenth century, people were executed for being believed they were witches and followers of Satan. Most of these executions were performed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Mainly all of the accused victims were womenRead MoreWitches And The Salem Witch Trials1309 Words   |  6 Pageswhat when men and women hunted for witches known as the Salem Witch trials. This time will be forever remembered for the people in the town and the victims and family members of the horrifying time. European descents brought with many of them was the belief in witches and the devil. These beliefs that they believed in so much were from the teaching of the catholic church. During the seventeenth century, people were executed for being believed they were witches and followers of Satan. Most of theseRead MoreWitches And The Salem Witch Trials1676 Words   |  7 PagesMary Walcott, and Mary Warren are very important people in the Salem Witch Trials. There are conflicting opinions on whether or not witches exist. However, when taking a more in-depth look at the trials, it is very evident that witches in 17th century Salem did not exist; children were accusing people out of boredom, parents were using this as a type of revenge, and the witch tests were unjust. The 17th century Salem witch trials all started when 9-year-old Betty Parris and 11-year-old Abigail WilliamsRead MoreThe Witches Of Salem Witch Trials1371 Words   |  6 PagesTammen Salem Witchcraft Trial Theories In the 1690s â€Å"The â€Å"afflicted† girls [whom] made the accusations were some of the most powerless members of their society† (â€Å"Part II: The Witches of Salem†). Salem Witch Trials quickly became famous and researchers began exploring the multiple possibilities behind the trials. Although many theories were considered, none could explain why so many were accused and hanged. Notably, ergot poisoning was a highly considered theory for the Salem trials. Farming conditionsRead MoreThe Witches Of Salem Witch Trials1760 Words   |  8 Pagesand is known for the atrocity that rattled the land. This atrocity, or The Salem Witch Trials, began around 1692, several years after the Puritans settled in Salem. During the Trials, an absurd amount of women, men, and even dogs were accused of being possessed by the Devil, thus making them perform witchcraft or wizardry on both townspeople and the townspeople’s valuables. Many women were found guilty of being witches and were executed by either hanging, stoning, or being burned at the stake. TheRead MoreThe Witches : Salem Witch Trials Of 16922179 Words   |  9 Pagesrole did Tituba s confession to be a witch start the mass hunt for the witches in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692? This investigation will include details on the events that occurred after Tituba’s confession in Salem during 1962 and 1963. I t will also include a brief description of society at the time and what societal pressures may have led to this horrific time. The first source that will be evaluated in depth is Stacy Schiff’s book â€Å"The Witches: Salem, 1692†, published in October 2015Read MoreThe Witches : Suspicions, Betrayals And Hysteria Of The Salem Witch Trials Essay1169 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Stacy Schiff’s national bestseller The Witches highlights the suspicions, betrayals and hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials. In 1692, the commonwealth of Massachusetts executed five men, fourteen women, and two dogs for witchcraft. One might wonder how and why this Puritan colony became so caught up in this witch frenzy. In this book she is able to paint a clear picture of the panic that occurred among the people of Salem. â€Å"In three hundred years, we have not adequately penetratedRead MoreWitches, Sorcerers, And Shamans1650 Words   |  7 PagesWitches, sorcerers, and shamans are all different terms used to describe persons associated with other worldly powers. Cautionary tales have been written about them as far back as the Old Testament and in Homer’s Odyssey. While almost every human culture has possessed the theory of a witch, the most well-known witch trials are the ones from the late 15th century to the late 17th century in Europe. Many aspects of European life, such as art and politics, were splitting away from the Church. EvenRead MoreThe Hunt For Witches By William Golding1513 Words   |  7 PagesThe Hunt for Witches In 1692, Puritans practiced purity, worked hard and believed that God was the center of everything. The children were to be obedient to their parents and follow the ways of â€Å"pureness† outlined before them. They were to serve God and not participate in any form of witchcraft. The Puritans believed that anything that happened was either an act of God or the devil. However, the children loved the stories told by Tituba, a Barbadian slave, belonging to Reverend Parris and dancingRead MoreThe Malleus Maleficarum, By Dominican Inquisitors Heinrich And Jacob Sprenger1671 Words   |  7 PagesSprenger, was used by Catholics and Protestants as a bank of knowledge on how to locate and prosecute witches. Though the text was published in 1487, it was still used as the premier text on witches well into the 18th century. The text is incredibly thorough, covering the topics of witch identification, explanations of how witches make their pacts with the devil, and how to effectively con duct a trial. This text was written to be read by upper class members of the clergy and secular governments. The