Show Notes
The witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries are, by far, the reason for many of the stereotypes of witchcraft. The belief in witch cults was rife throughout the educated classes of Christendom, and when combined with the desperate anger of starving peasants and townsfolk these beliefs spread fire and destruction on an unprecedented scale. This is the Century of Fire, when innumerable men, women, and children were burnt at the stake, bishops celebrated their newly-enforced orthodoxy, and executioners profited. This episode will explain the background of these events, and covers what I have found to be the most convincing explanations for why these trials happened.
This episode primarily made use of the following texts, among others: Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (1530) Del Rio, Martin, Disquisitiones Magicae, (1599)
Weyer, Johann, De Praestigiis Daemonum (1563) Spee, Friedrich, Cautio Criminalis (1531)
Remy, Nicholas, Demonolatry (1595) Oldridge, Darren, (ed.) The Witchcraft Reader, London, 2002 Midelfort, H. C. Erik, Witch Hunting in South-Western Germany, 1972 Barry, Jonathan and Davies, Owen, Palgrave Advances in Witchcraft Historiography, 2007 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from The History of Witchcraft
The first half of Episode 2 - Hostile Takeover. Listen to the full episode here: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ARML6837257429?selected=ARML4090812395 After the death of Aurangzeb, the United East India Company benefitted from the political chaos of 18th century India. Allying with, fighting against, and eventually dominating the Nawabs of Bengal and Arcot, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy, and the Sultans of Mysore. At the Battles of Plassey and Buxar, Company generals like Sir Robert Clive asserted British authority over massive territories, and the Carnatic Wars hobbled their European rivals. The British Empire in India was on the rise, but what goes up must come down.
Witch Hunt Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07rn38z/episodes/downloads Time Travels: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b094d4hl/episodes/downloads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ben Jacobs of Wittenberg to Westphalia and Sam Hume of the History of Witchcraft sat down for a chat about witch panics, memes, authority, and the importance of getting angry while also staying calm.
Prof. Oldridge joins me to talk about witchcraft and religion in early Stuart England, The recommended books, available from all good retailers, are:
This is just a short catch up episode to share what I experienced at Sound Education 2019. I met so many great podcasters, many that I've listened to for years and many more that are now in my queue. www.SoundEducation.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices