Early witches were pagans believed to be doing the Devil's work by casting spells, though some were simply healers. The Bible contains some of the earliest references to witches. Witch hysteria grew in Europe during the 1400s, fueled by publications like Malleus Maleficarum, and 80,000 alleged witches were executed by 1660, mostly women. As hysteria faded in Europe, it grew in colonial America, culminating in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 where 18 people were hanged for witchcraft based on accusations of young girls experiencing fits.
2. The History of Witchcraft
Early witches were people who practiced witchcraft, casting spells and summoning
spirits for assistance or change. The majority of witches were assumed to be pagans
doing the Devil's bidding. On the other hand, many on the other hand, were simply
natural healers or so-called "wise women" whose profession was misunderstood. It is
unclear when witches first appeared in history, but one of the earliest records of a witch
can be found in the Bible in the book of 1 Samuel, which is thought to have been written
between 931 B.C. and 721 B.C. It tells the story of King Saul seeking the Witch of Endor
to summon the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel to aid him in defeating the Philistine
army. The witch awoke Samuel, who predicted the death of Saul and his sons.
According to the Bible, Saul's sons died in battle the next day, and Saul committed
suicide. Other Old Testament verses criticize witches, such as Exodus 22:18, which
states, "thou shalt not allow a witch to live." Other Biblical passages warn against
divination, chanting, or using witches to contact the dead.
3. Malleus Maleficarum
Witch hysteria really took shape in Europe during the mid-1400s, since many accused
witches pleaded guilty to a variety of wicked behaviours, often under torture. Within a
century, witch hunts were common, and the majority of those accused were burned at the
stake or hanged. Single women, widows, and other marginalised women were particularly
targeted. Between 1500 and 1660, up to 80,000 alleged witches were executed in Europe.
Around 80% of them were women who were thought to be in agreeance with the Devil and
full of lust. The highest rate of witchcraft executions was in Germany, while the lowest was in
Ireland. The 1486 publication of "Malleus Maleficarum," written by two respected German
Dominicans, likely fueled the spread of witch mania. The book, usually translated as "The
Hammer of Witches," was primarily a guide about how to identify, hunt, and interrogate
witches. "Malleus Maleficarum" declared witchcraft to be heresy and rapidly became the
authoritative figure for Protestants and Catholics seeking to rid their communities of witches.
Except for the Bible, the book remained popular in Europe for more than a century.
4. Salem Witch Trials
As witch hysteria faded in Europe, it grew in the New World, which was struggling from French-British
wars, a smallpox epidemic, and the ongoing fear of attacks from neighbouring native American tribes.
The tense atmosphere called for scapegoats. In 1692, the most well-known witch trials occurred in
Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem witch trials began when 9-year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11-year-old
Abigail Williams began having fits, body contortions, and uncontrollable screaming. As more young
women began to show symptoms, there was mass hysteria, and three women were suspected of
witchcraft: Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn, and Tituba, an enslaved woman controlled by Parris' father.
Tituba admitted to being a witch and began accusing others of witchcraft. Bridget Bishop was hanged at
the Salem gallows on June 10, becoming the first accused witch to be executed during the Salem Witch
Trials. In the end, approximately 150 people were charged, with 18 being executed. The Salem Witch
Trials did not only affect women; six men were convicted and executed as well. However,
Massachusetts wasn't the only one of the 13 states to be obsessed with witches. Alse Young became
the first person executed in America for witchcraft in 1647 in Windsor, Connecticut. Before Connecticut's
final witch trial in 1697, forty-six individuals were accused of witchcraft in the state, with 11 being
executed for the crime. People in Virginia were less concerned about witches. In fact, a law was passed
in Lower Norfolk County in 1655 making falsely accusing someone of witchcraft a crime. Witchcraft
remained a concern. Between 1626 and 1730, Virginia saw approximately two dozen witch trials (mostly
of women). None of the defendants were executed.
5. References
• History.com Editors. (2017). History of Witches. [Online]. History. Last Updated: 20
October 2020. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-
witches#:~:text=Early%20witches%20were%20people%2 [Accessed 26 February
2023].
