HIST 23400 - Witchcraft and Witch Hunts, c. 1400-1750

In early modern Europe, roughly 100,000 people (predominantly women) were put on trial for witchcraft. About half this number were executed. This course seeks to understand how and why these horrific events occurred at this particular time and why more trials occurred in particular areas of Europe. Using thematic and geographical approaches, we will investigate the ancient and medieval roots of these witch hunts, and look in detail at the trials and executions of the accused, using trial records, anti-witch tracts from Church officials and other primary sources, as well as secondary sources from a wide range of modern authors. We will also pay special attention to the role that gender played in the witch hunts, looking at the various ways in which women were targeted during this period, and the roles gender may have played in witchcraft accusations. In addition to examining canonical works on witchcraft and witch trials, we will read some feminist interpretations of the witch hunts by historians and scholars from other disciplines. The course will also look into how ideas about witches crossed the Atlantic, using Salem as way to examine similarities and differences with the European “witch craze.” Students will also have an opportunity to examine how witches and witch hunts have been portrayed in popular culture, from 17th century English plays to modern films and television. Overall, students in this course will seek to understand why the “witch craze” occurred, and what short- and long-term impact this phenomenon had on European and early American culture and society.

Cr. 3.