HIST 306 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2.6: Demonic Possession
Document Summary
There must be a belief in harmful magic for a witch hunt: also needed to believe that the devil and his servants were attacking the christian population. Depended on whether torture was allowed: without force of naming then no major trials could occur. Medieval courts worked for communal peace after a trial: renascence courts instead focused on punitive justice and punishment became the goal of the courts. Also, those who accused someone would have to face punishment if they were wrong: kept random accusations from happening. What might prompt a witch hunt: natural disasters, revenge, bewitchment. Once accused, even if found not guilty, families were outcasts. The centralization of the courts lead to nationalization: identify those they were against. Cities that did not believe in demonic possession had smaller witch hunts. Germany, on the other hand, had witch crazes: believed in torture. The pattern of accusation, denial, torture, confession, and denial, torture, confession etc. is very prevalent.
