After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal The Real Witch Hunts: Persecution & Panic
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Nov 16, 2023 
Historian Suzannah Lipscomb joins Anthony and Maddy to discuss the realities of witch hunts in Early Modern Europe. They explore the legislative history, societal perceptions, intricacies of accusations, and the evolution of witch hunts. Unraveling myths and misconceptions, they shed light on the true nature of witch trials.
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Witchcraft As A Real Communal Threat
- Early modern Europeans feared hidden neighbors who could harm crops, livestock, infants, or people using supernatural powers.
- From the late 15th century the fear fused with the idea of a diabolical pact, making witchcraft feel like an existential communal threat.
Law, Not Church, Drove Most Prosecutions
- Witch hunts are often linked to church texts but prosecutions were mainly legal, not ecclesiastical.
- From the 16th century witchcraft became a criminal offence handled by state courts rather than regular church trials.
From Maleficium To Diabolical Pact In Law
- Early laws targeted maleficium—harm by magic—treating magical damage like criminal damage.
- James I then expanded statutes to include diabolical pacts, raising stakes to treason-like significance.