European Witch Trials: Causes and Impact

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Questions and Answers

How did the Malleus Maleficarum influence witch trials during the early period (late 15th - 16th century)?

It encouraged Italian inquisitors to focus more on devil worship, thus broadening the scope of witchcraft accusations.
It advocated for stricter adherence to standard judicial procedures, ensuring fair trials for the accused.
It downplayed the role of demonic pacts in witchcraft, leading to a decline in witch trials across Europe.
It provided a detailed guide for prosecutors, reinforced stereotypes about witches, and promoted the abandonment of usual judicial processes. (correct)

Which factor contributed to the decline in witch trials in some regions during times of war?

The rise of new religious movements that offered alternative explanations for misfortune.
A shift in focus towards prosecuting other crimes, such as heresy and sedition.
Increased reliance on local folklore and traditions rather than demonological beliefs.
Strong, centralized authority and the implementation of legal reforms such as bans on torture. (correct)

How did agrarian crises contribute to witch hunts in regions like Trier during the late 16th century?

Continuous harvest failures were blamed on witchcraft, resulting in mass executions. (correct)
Crop failures were attributed to divine punishment, leading to increased piety and fewer accusations.
Agricultural innovations led to increased prosperity, diminishing the need to find scapegoats.
Economic hardship led to social cohesion and mutual support, reducing the likelihood of scapegoating.

What role did universities play in witch trials, particularly in German courts during the early period?

Universities consulted with courts on witchcraft cases, spreading demonological theories to local magistrates. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In what way did the Spanish Inquisition differ from other European authorities in handling witch accusations?

It restricted the use of torture and maintained control over accusations, preventing large-scale witch hunts. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the connection between wars and witch trials during the mid-period (late 16th - early 17th century), as exemplified by cases in Bamberg?

Wars created judicial vacuums and intensified scapegoating, leading to more witch trials. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did the approach of Italian inquisitors to witchcraft accusations differ from that outlined in the Malleus Maleficarum?

They rejected the Malleus Maleficarum and concentrated on accusations of ritual magic rather than devil worship. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did longer-term effects of war relate to witch trials in Hungary and Poland during the late 17th century?

The chaotic legacy of war and the resulting social instability contributed to a rise in witch trials. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor primarily fueled the witch hunts in Trier during the late 16th century?

Community pressure responding to agrarian crises. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did the 1593 Swedish law impact witch hunt executions compared to other regions during the same period?

It limited executions due to its strict evidentiary thresholds. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of Bishop Dornheim in the Bamberg witch hunts between 1627 and 1631?

He created the Drudenhaus torture chamber, contributing to a high number of executions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of banning spectral evidence by Phips in Massachusetts of 1692?

The Salem trials were halted. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of England's Witchcraft Act of 1542?

It marked the start of witch hunt prosecutions in England. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Despite the Danish government's declaration in 1547 limiting the use of torture and testimony, what continued to occur?

Approximately 2,000 witchcraft trials and 1,000 executions still occurred. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the case of Anna Goldi, what primarily led to her execution in Switzerland?

Accusation by her employer based on a personal dispute. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the key difference in the Basque witch hunt of 1609-11 compared to other hunts in the HRE?

The Spanish Inquisition tortured only two of the accused, keeping the trials under control. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the reception of Western demonological ideas differ in Russia compared to Western Europe during the mid-period (late 16th-early 17th century)?

Russia largely ignored Western demonological ideas, resulting in witchcraft being treated as harmful magic rather than devil worship. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary initial target of witchcraft accusations during the early period (late 15th-16th century)?

Individuals accused of heresy, particularly in areas with religious diversity. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributed to the decline of witchcraft prosecutions in the Dutch Republic during the later period (mid-17th century)?

Intellectual skepticism, bans on torture, and a more rational approach to justice. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did the religious context in Switzerland and Lorraine contribute to intense witch hunts during the mid-period (late 16th-early 17th century)?

The presence of religiously mixed regions heightened tensions and fueled accusations of witchcraft. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Increase Mather's writings in the 1690s in relation to the Salem witch trials?

They questioned the use of spectral evidence, contributing to the decline of the Salem trials. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What made the witch hunts in Bamberg during the mid-period (late 16th-early 17th century) an exception within the Holy Roman Empire (HRE)?

Bamberg was a homogeneously Catholic area ruled by prince-bishops, experiencing intense hunting fueled by proximity to Protestant regions and religious fervor. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of Martin Del Rio's 'Six Books of Discussions on Magic' on witchcraft trials during the mid-period (late 16th-early 17th century)?

It became widely used by judges and increased the intensity of witch hunts. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did low literacy rates affect the persistence of intense witchcraft trials in Poland during the later period (mid-17th century)?

Low literacy rates made rural populations more resistant to intellectual shifts and skeptical ideas. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did the role of local communities in witch hunts evolve from the early to later periods?

Communities' role shifted from initial instigators in later periods to pressure groups influencing authorities, particularly in Protestant areas. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In what way did fragmented political structures, such as those in the Holy Roman Empire, influence the intensity of witch hunts during the early period?

Fragmented states saw more intense witch hunts due to the absence of a strong central authority to restrain local initiatives. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What factor primarily differentiated the Dutch Republic's approach to witch hunts from that of other regions during the mid-period?

A centralized skepticism toward witch hunts combined with a ban on torture reduced the occurrence of widespread trials in the Dutch Republic. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did figures like Matthew Hopkins in East Anglia exploit specific conditions during the mid-period to conduct witch hunts?

Hopkins exploited legal loopholes created by the instability of war and the resulting authority vacuum. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In what way did the restoration of Scottish governance in 1661 influence witch-hunting activities?

It revived government-led witch-hunting, resulting in the largest witch hunt in Scottish history from 1661 to 1662. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role did higher authorities play in mitigating witch hunts, as evidenced by specific exceptions during the early period?

Higher authorities, as seen in Habsburg capitals, sometimes provided refuge for those fleeing trials. (C) Signup and view all the answers

During the later period, what dynamic primarily fueled witch hunts in locations such as Salem and Scotland?

Community tensions and local fears, sometimes amplified by the testimonies of children or pressure from tenants, were the primary drivers. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defined the witch hunts led by judicial elites like Heinrich Kramer during the early period?

Centralized hunts in Catholic regions authorized by papal decree. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Agrarian Crises & Witch Hunts

Economic hardship, like crop failure, led to witch accusations.

War & Witch Hunts

Wars exacerbated witch hunts by causing social chaos and judicial gaps.

Malleus Maleficarum

A book that standardized witch stereotypes and judicial procedures for inquisitors.

Carolina Law (Article 109)

The Holy Roman Empire's legal code requiring courts to consult universities on witchcraft cases, spreading demonological theory.