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Medieval Ghost Stories Timeline and Origin
- Medieval ghost stories became more common around the first millennium, proliferating from 1100 to the mid-1500s.
- These stories originated across Europe, with a notable concentration in northern England.
Early Church Views on Ghosts
- The early Catholic Church, particularly St. Augustine, discouraged ghost stories due to their association with pagan beliefs.
- St. Augustine argued that ghosts were demonic illusions or, rarely, angelic visions in dreams.
Shifting Views on Ghost Stories
- From the 12th century, ghost stories gained acceptance, possibly linked to new commemorative rites and purgatory.
- William of Newburgh highlighted the reliability of witnesses recording these stories.