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By end of 16th century, Europe experienced decline in __ and __ that affected both __ and __. __weakened through __ in 17th century. People wanted __. There was an extension of monarchical power (absolute monarchy)__. Other states had monarchs limited by __.
- religious passions
- growing secularization
- political and intellectual worlds
- Christianity
- religious wars
- order
- order
- representative assemblies
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Social Crises, War, and Rebellions: __-fueled prosperity showed signs of slackening by beginning of 17th century. Economic contraction evident from decline in __, __, and __, and __. Population in the 16th century expanded from__ and __, leveled off by __, and declined by __. Only the __, __, and __ grew in first half of 17th century. __, __, and __ affected the population. Another little __ affected harvests and caused famines, creating social tensions in the __.
- Inflation
- silver imports
- intensifying economic recessions
- Italy (economic backwater)
- Spain’s failing economy
- warmer climate and increased food
- 1620
- 1650
- Dutch, English and French
- War, famine, and plague
- ice age
- witchcraft craze
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
- a. Hysteria over witchcraft (16-17th) in England, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, France and Low Countries, New Englandà trials
- b. Not new; traditional village culture, but viewed as sinister and dangerous when medieval church connected them with devil= heresy, need to abolish
- i. After Inquisition (13th), people accused of practicing it and burned at stake, turned in, or hung
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
Trials
- a. Increased number of trials and executions of presumed witches
- i. Trialà fear of them and being accused of it
- 1. Trials spread to smaller towns and rural areas
- ii. Accused witches confessed to practices after torture
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
Practices
- 1. Practices
- a. Admitting to swearing allegiance to the devil and attending sabbats or nocturnal gatherings where they feasted, danced, and copulated with the devil in sexual orgies
- b. Admissions of using evil incantations and special ointments and powders to wreak havoc on neighbors by killing livestock, injuring kids, or raising storms to destroy crops
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
Theories for widespread frenzy
- i. Religious uncertainties
- ii. Social condition and society of turmoil
- iii. Women as chief victims of witchcraft
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
Theories: i. Religious uncertainties
- 1. Trials usually in Protestant regions or Protestant-Catholic controversial areas
- a. Religious passions increasedà increase in accusations of work with devil
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
Theories: Social Condition and Society of Turmoil
- 1. Old communal values (work together for good of community) declined before new economic view of self-importance
- a. Property owners feared number of poor and transformed them psychologically into devil’s advocates, especially old women
- i. Many were no longer recipients of local charity of society and resorted to selling herbs, potions, and secret remedies for healing to survive
- 1. Problems led to using them as scapegoats
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
Women
- 1. Nicholas Remy, a witchcraft judge in France, accused witches coming from female sex
- 2. Another judge= not surprised they were sexually involved with Satan
- 3. Theologians, lawyers, and philosophers= women inferior and susceptible to witchcraft
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I. The Witchcraft Craze
Decline
- 1. Mid-17th century
- 2. Destruction from religious wars= acceptance of grudging toleration, tempering religious passions
- 3. Governments stabilization after crisis= fewer magistrates willing to accept unsettling and divisive conditions from trials
- 4. 18th: educated people questioned attitudes toward religion and didn’t believe world of evil spirits
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