Witchcraft in the 1400s going on to the 1700s gained massive popularity due to several factors. Some of these factors included hallucinogens contained in the “oyl” women used to anoint themselves, manipulating the hysteria and using it as a form of social control to make people conform to the norms of the society and lastly, using it to explain misfortunes that afflicted the people of the community and the neighboring ones. First, a witch had confessed that before going off on their meetings, they (the witches) anoint themselves with a special “oyl” that was brought to them by a spirit and that it assisted them on their journey with the devil to Sabbat, a place filled with merriment where their desires were being fulfilled. This ointment was said to help in the transportation of their soul or body to the said destination. The “oyl” was rubbed on their staffs, broomstick or under their armpits and other hairy parts of their body. What was unknown to them was that the ointment contained hallucinogenic active agents from plants like mandrake, henbane, and belladonna (also referred to as deadly nightshade). From these plants, the active hallucinogenic agent, atropine can be found in them and according to Marvin Harris, “atropine is…absorbable through the intact skin.” Under the influence of this hallucinogen, the users of the ointment claimed to see several people with them making merry in the Sabbat and fulfilling their utmost desires of sexual lust and other erotic behaviors.
The most contributing factor in the witchcraft hysteria was due to the unstable colonies of the Americas. During the early 1600’s the new colonies had rough times establishing religion. Eventually the 13 colonies passed a law indicating that religion and state
Around this period, the witchcraft craze frenzy became very apparent. Throughout this time, people were being brought to trial for practicing this custom.
The Demonology of King James I paired with the influence of the protestant church created a huge wave of what was labeled as witchcraft craft in early Scotland.
The witchcraft phenomenon of the Renaissance period was shaped by a wide range of cultural factors; witchcraft was not necessarily subject to a single cohesive idea or concept, and it was often instead a conglomeration of many different societal concerns, concerns which spanned through all spheres of society. Textual evidence from this period provides insight into the way in which witches were conceived, and how witches were dealt with, while visual images present a companion visualisation of the tensions, which influenced created the witch, and the imagery, which came to be associated with witchcraft.
When learning of witchcraft in the seventeenth century, it is important to understand the faith at the time. Knowing the what the people, at the time,
The striking imagery of Hans Baldung Grien and Albrecht Dürer provided a powerful accompaniment to the highly explicit texts of the demonologists who helped shape the witch craze. Their work is representative of the complex relationship visual sources had with the witch craze and witches as an entity. Charles Zika emphasises the role of the artist in the witch crazes stating ‘Artists played a critical role in selecting, interpreting and reconfiguring visual elements and thereby created particular cultural readings of witchcraft’. However, whilst there is some agreement regarding the connection between texts and imagery, a deeper analysis of these visual images indicate that the artists had a more complex relationship with the actual events of the witch craze, the demonological texts, and their audience.
Witch hunting was the persecution and possible execution of individuals considered to be ‘witches’ loyal to the devil. It was an all too common occurrence from 1603-1712 all over Europe. However in order to understand why this happened the context must be taken into account. It was a time of change, the Renaissance - the rebirth of culture, ideas and attitudes to living. The Reformation had also only been implemented in England in the last 80 years back from 1603, when it had previously been catholic for centuries. The English civil war from 1642 to 1651 is argued to have played a part in the intensification of the witch hunts in England due to the peak in executions whilst it was on going. Some historians have taken the view that in time of crisis certain groups can be victimised like in wars, famine, disease outbreaks and changes in society structure.
In the 16th century, different societies with distinctive social and common religious views have assisted in the harsh treatment towards witchcraft. The accounts in Salem provided its reasoning on the unexplainable acts and questions being associated with the devil producing an execution of hanging. Whereas in Europe implemented its action of persecution and torture on the influential publication of Nicole's Remy and Jean Boldin. Depending on the social and religious components in a particular community, contributes to how one perceives a witch and how they will communicate and administer the participant of witchcraft.
Act of oblivion “Women and Explanations for European Witchcraft Beliefs in the 16th and 17th Century.” (2003)
The idea of witchcraft was a frightening thought for many villagers that believed sorcery existed. A person who possessed magic and power was branded a witch and was considered evil. The evil they used had caused fear and lead to the belief that they were bonded with the Devil. Their magic could control the mind and body of the innocence, objects, and could even be used to inflict death. Since witches disguised in human form, it was very hard to depict who was and was not a witch. Therefore, when an unforeseen phenomenon occurred, such as sickness in animals or the devastation of crops, many concluded that there was a witch walking amongst them. The willpower to capture and punish witches lead to the formation of witch-hunters (Mastin,
A large proportion of society in England believed in witchcraft, but the reasons as to why a country which was developing a belief in
I had never seen such affection and care as I did from my family. After all the goodbyes we made our way into the airport. I held tight to my rolling suitcase as I walked to my future and I never forgot the love and support that stood there weeping. After waiting in the airport for over two hours. The plane finally arrived. I was sitting in my airplane seat slowly anticipating to see my mom that I haven’t seen in six years. I remember the first day that I had came to America. Getting out of the airplane exhausted not being able to walk because I had been sitting in the plane for 12 hours. I was in the Phoenix airport, looking around nervously in a peculiar place filled with peculiar people. But, the moment I saw my Mom and my other family,
After defeating the incumbent prime minister, KP Oli is in the process of forming a new government in Nepal. His government faces daunting challenges -- both old and new.
Acceptance is a definite and unqualified assent to an offer, on all of its terms. Any acceptance given conditionally will not result in a legally binding agreement.
Witchcraft revolution in the humor of it all people believed in magic spirits potions that also the town doctor to help them care this disease but if they died they would say it was paying for their ancestor’s behaviors or sins of their own. George Washington died in the results of given a shot of mercury, also poison white salt to make him per spire involvement due to his a sore throat. People’s beliefs of human body contains four fluids human blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile. Our ancestors believed in evil spirits entered their bodies and they became ill. Also back in the old day’s people believed in hocus-pocus focus that was better than believing in what was the result of the illness and the germs.