Witchcraft in 16th Century Europe
Why the Sudden Surge of Witches
-The Clergy considered witchcraft Anti-Christian and heresy
-Searching for someone to take responsibility for the economic crisis and the Black Death
-The Reformation classified new people as witches
-Pope Innocent VIII issued a declaration in the 1498 confirming their existence in society
Why was Witchcraft Suddenly Bad
-Witchcraft, seen as a religion of the ancient and traditional pagan religion which worships the feminine, earthly aspects of a God
-The Church deemed witches as evil, and said that they make pacts and connections with the Devil.
-The Clergy deemed witchcraft as anti-Christian and heresy
Witch Hunts
-Witch trials were most common in Central Europe, in Germany, France, Switzerland and what is now Belgium
-Archbishop of Germany, led weekly witch hunts to purify his dioceses.
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