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Why was there so much variation in the judicial prosecution of witchcraft within Early Modern Europe?
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Eleanor Fell James Casey Why was there so much variation in the judicial prosecution of witchcraft within Early Modern Europe? It has been estimated that during the Early Modern period, around 100,000 people were executed in Europe accused of witchcraft, half of which were in the Holy Roman Empire1. These executions were not therefore evenly spread across the continent, with some areas witnessing epidemic, intense witch-hunts (such as Germany, Switzerland and Poland), whilst others experienced relatively few trials in comparison (like in England, Scandinavia, Italy and Spain). Furthermore, variation in judicial prosecution occurred over time, with the worst panics arising in the 1590s, 1630s and 1660s. Most historians agree that 'there is no mono-causal explanation'2 for this variation, and that it must have been a result of several factors. For high levels of judicial prosecution to be experienced in a region, it has been suggested that certain preconditions had to exist: - Authorities...
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