The prosecution of witches in Germany is a dark chapter in European history, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries. During this time, thousands of people, mostly women, were accused of practicing witchcraft and subsequently put on trial and executed. The belief in witchcraft was pervasive during this period, and it was seen as a real and dangerous threat to society. The Catholic Church played a significant role in propagating this belief and encouraging the prosecution of witches. The Malleus Maleficarum, or "Hammer of Witches," published in 1487, was a guidebook for the identification, prosecution, and punishment of witches. It fueled the hysteria and fear surrounding witchcraft, leading to an increase in witch trials.
Past guest Lorraine echoed the sentiment: “We have taken many Trafalgar tours – all wonderful – but this one was particularly beautiful.
Scattered across the USA and Canada are stunning national parks, where pristine wilderness, majestic mountains, serene lakes, and diverse ecosystems await. The natural world is soothing and grounding, and these quotes about nature help remind all to take a deep breath, inhale the good, release the negative, and enjoy the ride on our magnificent earth.
It fueled the hysteria and fear surrounding witchcraft, leading to an increase in witch trials. The trials were often conducted with little to no evidence, relying heavily on confessions obtained through torture. Accused witches were subjected to various forms of torture, such as the strappado, water torture, or thumb screws, until they confessed to practicing witchcraft.
These Awe-Inspiring Women Are Staking Their Claim To The Outdoors
The great outdoors should be the most inclusive space on the planet. But when you look at the most visible people representing the at-large active-in-nature community in documentaries, advertisements, and professional outdoor sports settings, it can come off as an exclusive, white-washed boys club. First, there’s the historical gender gap in outdoor activities: One 2020 report found that 46 percent of participants were female-identifying versus 54 percent male-identifying, progress that’s taken decades if not centuries to achieve. Additionally, many publicly managed outdoor spaces are still functionally unaccommodating, cost or culturally prohibitive, or otherwise unwelcoming to lower-income groups and folks with disabilities, who may struggle to travel to or utilize outdoor spaces. (Notably, it takes time and money investment to create trails and recreation sites that are more universally accessible.)
The good news? We’re making strides toward positive change. That 46 percent of people getting out there who are women are forging their way in the wild at an unprecedented level of collective confidence, expertise, and purpose. In partnership with Danner, we spoke with three such inspiring women who have pushed forward to pursue their love of the outdoors, despite lack of recognition, lack of representation in their passions, and lack of support from fellow naturalist types. Their common mission to carve out space for all of us in The Outside—which might just be the invitation to step into adventure many of us have been waiting for.
DannerElan Hagens has been digging in the dirt since she was a kid. Growing up in Portland, though, her access to the outdoors was limited; her mom, who grew up on a sharecropper’s farm in Louisiana, was a single parent without a lot of money and without a car. “People don’t realize what a privilege it is to access the outdoors until they’re faced with all the barriers I grew up with,” says Hagens.
But Hagens found her way—through scholarships to outdoor science camps, community gardening, and wilderness experiences with friends. Now, she’s bringing the wild into Portland through what she calls the “truffle hustle.” Her love of truffles started when, by chance on a post-college trip to Seattle, she tried a craft cocktail that contained the valuable edible fungi.
When Hagens learned how common they were in the forests of the Pacific Northwest near her home outside Portland—she decided to train her own dogs (she has TK of them) to sniff them out. And so her business (Temptress Truffles Wild Edibles) selling fungi at local farmers markets and online was born. Over time, her small business has become her full-time hustle.
As much as Hagens loves scouring the forests with her dogs, “it’s about more than mushrooms,” she says. Despite 10 years in the business, she’s still often mistaken for an employee instead of a business owner at the farmers market. “It’s about representation and de-stigmatization,” she explains. “When I was a kid, I was normalizing seeing Black people in the outdoors. Now I’m normalizing seeing a young Black woman owning an outdoor business.”
“The trip, the people we met were worth every moment.”
These confessions were used as primary evidence against the accused, despite their dubious nature. The accused were often marginalized members of society, such as widows, elderly women, or those with unusual or unexplained behavior. Those who did not conform to social norms were viewed with suspicion and labeled as witches. The trials provided an outlet for societal fears and anxieties, as they allowed the community to place blame on these individuals for any misfortunes or hardships they experienced. Local authorities, such as judges and magistrates, played a significant role in the prosecution of witches. They were responsible for overseeing trials and making the final decision regarding guilt or innocence. In many cases, the accused were found guilty and subsequently executed. The preferred method of execution for witches in Germany was burning at the stake, although other methods, such as hanging or beheading, were also employed. The persecution of witches began to decline in the late 17th century, as skepticism regarding witchcraft grew. Enlightenment thinkers and intellectuals began to question the validity of witch trials and the evidence used to support convictions. The scientific revolution and advancements in rational thinking challenged deeply ingrained beliefs about witchcraft. In conclusion, the persecution of witches in Germany was a dark period in European history. It was fueled by widespread fear and a fervent belief in the supernatural. The trials were characterized by torture, false confessions, and the execution of thousands of innocent people, mostly women. However, as skepticism grew, so did the decline of witch trials, leading to the eventual end of this disturbing practice..
Reviews for "The Witch Trials in Germany: A Legacy of Religious Intolerance"
1. Jane Smith - 1 star
I found "Prosecution of Witches in Germany" to be extremely disappointing. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any significant analysis or interpretation of the witch trials. It felt more like a listing of facts rather than a comprehensive study. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to stay engaged with the material. I was hoping for a more insightful and thought-provoking exploration of this dark period in history, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.
2. John Wilson - 2 stars
Although "Prosecution of Witches in Germany" promised to shed light on a fascinating and important historical topic, I found the book to be underwhelming. The author's presentation lacked coherence, and the narrative jumped from one point to another without proper context or connection. This made it difficult to follow the progression of events and understand the motivations behind the witch trials. Moreover, the book lacked any substantial analysis of the social, cultural, or religious factors that fueled the persecution of witches in Germany. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with the lack of depth and scholarship in this book.
3. Emily Davis - 1 star
I cannot recommend "Prosecution of Witches in Germany" to anyone interested in delving into the subject matter. The book was riddled with factual inaccuracies and lacked proper citation or references for the information presented. It seemed as though the author relied solely on popular beliefs and myths rather than conducting rigorous research. Furthermore, the writing style was excessively dry, failing to engage the reader and make the compelling case that this historical period deserves. In short, this book falls short both in its content and execution, leaving the reader with unanswered questions and a sense of dissatisfaction.