The Meaning of Witchcraft

Witchcraft, 1550-1750

In this course, Professor Malcolm Gaskill (University of East Anglia) explores the history of witchcraft in early modern England. In the first module we explore what we mean by witchcraft and how this changed over the centuries. We then turn to look at the rise of witch trials in England from the middle of the 16th century. We then take a closer look at how the law developed in England around the issue of witchcraft. After this, we turn to look at the East Anglian Witch-Hunt of the 1640s. Finally we will consider how and why witchcraft fades away from English life in the late 17th and 18th centuries.

The Meaning of Witchcraft

In this module, we explore what we mean by witchcraft and how this changed over the centuries. Witches in this period can be characterised in three ways: (i) as religious deviants; (ii) as political conspirators; and (iii) as malefactors (or evil-doers). Witchcraft, in this period and also in general, is strongly associated with women and this is due to ideas about women being the weaker spiritual 'vessel'.