History 2186A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Salem Witch Trials, Mania, Southwest Airlines
7 Apr 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Lecture 8: witches, dancing mania, and demonic possession. Witches is not gender specific, sometimes you see wizard or warlock applying to a male witch. But during the 1400s-1700s, the word witch didn"t specifically refer to women, it referred to either gender. Centuries ago, this was a question that had real teeth to it. Unfortunately, there were a number of simple tests you could do to find out if someone was a witch. During the 17th century, anyone who had a pet, or talked to their pet was probably a witch. In the 17th century as well, if someone had a mole or scar, chances are they were a witch. These things have created concern verging on panic, verging on hysteria. They always had the feeling that society was on the edge of collapse and connected to that was the feeling that someone must be responsible.
