The witch hunt in early modern Europe was a dark and tumultuous period in history. Spanning from the 15th to the 18th centuries, it was marked by widespread fear and paranoia surrounding witchcraft and the supernatural. Although the exact number of victims is unknown, estimates range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people, the majority of whom were women. During this time, belief in witchcraft was deeply ingrained in European society. It was believed that witches made pacts with the devil, gained supernatural powers, and used them to harm others. The fears of witchcraft were fueled by religious fervor, social unrest, and the desire for control and order.
The fears of witchcraft were fueled by religious fervor, social unrest, and the desire for control and order. As a result, a mass hysteria developed, leading to a wave of accusations, trials, and executions. Accusations of witchcraft often stemmed from personal conflicts, neighborly disputes, or perceived deviations from societal norms.
The Worst Witch (Lythway Children's Books) (Large Print / Hardcover)
The Worst Witch written and illustrated by Jill Murphy is reissued with an exciting TV tie-in cover to accompany the new CBBC series in Spring 2017.The highly anticipated CBBC series stars Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) as Mildred, Clare Higgins (Doctor Who) as Miss Cackle and Raquel Cassidy (Downton Abbey) as Deputy Head, Miss Hardbroom. So hold on to your broomstick for magical mayhem
Mildred Hubble is a trainee at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, but she's making an awful mess of it. She keeps getting her spells wrong and crashing her broomstick. And when she turns Ethel, the teacher's pet into her worst enemy, chaos ensues.
Jill Murphy's much-loved classic The Worst Witch is the original story of life at a magical boarding school, perfect for readers aged 5 - 9 years and now made into a brilliant new TV series with fantastic special effects
'Millions of young readers have fallen under the spell of Jill Murphy's Worst Witch' - Sunday Express
If you'd like to read more of Mildred's disastrous adventures at Miss Cackle's Academy The Worst Witch Strikes Again, A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch, The Worst Witch All at Sea, The Worst Witch Saves the Day and The Worst Witch to the Rescue are also available from Puffin and are perfect for children aged 5-9.
About the Author
Jill Murphy was born in London in 1949. From a very early age she was drawing and writing stories, and was already putting books together (literally, with a stapler) by the time she was six. She went on to study at Chelsea, Croydon and Camberwell Schools of Art. Jill worked in a children's home for four years and as a nanny for a year, before becoming a freelance writer and illustrator. The Worst Witch stories are some of Puffin's most successful titles.
- Horror
- Paperback (August 5th, 2014): $6.99
Mass hysteria would often result in witch hunts, where communities would band together to identify and persecute alleged witches. They would employ various methods to extract confessions, such as torture, leading to a high rate of false confessions and wrongful executions. The accused witches were often subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment. They would be stripped, searched for "witch's marks," and subjected to humiliating examinations. Most commonly, they would be subjected to various forms of torture, including the infamous "witch's chair" or "witch's bridle," designed to extract confessions or force them to name other alleged witches. The torture methods used during witch trials were often brutal and resulted in severe physical and psychological trauma. The witch trials were not limited to a specific region or country but spread throughout Europe, with particular intensity in regions like Germany, Switzerland, and France. Authorities, such as judges and clergy, participated in the trials, further legitimizing the process. The trials were characterized by biased investigations, lack of due process, and subjective criteria for determining guilt or innocence. The witch hunt eventually began to decline in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Enlightenment thinkers and intellectuals called attention to the irrationality and injustice of the trials, leading to a reevaluation of beliefs in witchcraft. The decline of the witch hunt can also be attributed to political and social changes, such as the rise of the nation-state and the gradual secularization of Europe. The witch hunt in early modern Europe remains a haunting reminder of the power of fear, prejudice, and ignorance. It serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of mass hysteria and the need to uphold principles of justice and reason, even in the face of societal unrest. The victims of the witch trials should be remembered and honored as a testament to the resilience and courage of those who stood against injustice..
Reviews for "The Economic Factors of Witch Hunting in Early Modern Europe"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "The witch hunt in early modern Europe" to be incredibly dull and lacking in depth. The author seemed more interested in listing statistics and facts rather than providing any meaningful analysis or interpretation of the subject matter. The writing style was dry and monotonous, making it difficult for me to stay engaged with the book. I was hoping for a more comprehensive exploration of the socio-political factors that contributed to the witch hunts, but instead, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unenlightened. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this dark period in history.
2. Emma - 3 stars - While "The witch hunt in early modern Europe" had its merits, I found the author's arguments to be somewhat weak and unconvincing. It felt like the book was trying to cover too much ground without providing enough evidence or analysis. Additionally, the organization of the chapters was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the author's train of thought. I appreciated the effort to shed light on this often overlooked topic, but I believe there are better books out there that delve deeper into the complexities of the witch hunts. Overall, it was an average read, but I wasn't blown away by the author's approach or insights.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "The witch hunt in early modern Europe." The author's writing was verbose and overly academic, making it inaccessible to the average reader. It seemed like the book was written for scholars and experts in the field, rather than for a general audience. Additionally, the author's arguments were repetitive and lacked fresh perspectives. The book offered little in terms of new insights or interpretations of the subject matter. Overall, I found it to be a tedious and uninspiring read, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating exploration of the witch hunts.