Events - Event View

The Salem witch trials followed centuries of witch trials in Europe in which 40,000+ people (mostly women) were accused of being witches. The genesis of witch trials is a surprising mix of religion, politics, and culture that ended with tragic results for thousands. The second most popular book in the 16th century was a road map to rooting out witches hiding in plain sight, which demonstrates how seriously witches were taken in the period. Why were Europeans so worried about witchcraft, and what did they do to protect themselves against its dangerous power? How did those accused of witchcraft fare? What ended the witch hysteria in Europe and why did it appear in New England a century later?