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Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700: A Documentary History
Selected by Choice magazine as an Outstanding Academic Book for 2001
The highly-acclaimed first edition of this book chronicled the rise and fall of witchcraft in Europe between the twelfth and the end of the seventeenth centuries. Now greatly expanded, the classic anthology of contemporary texts reexamines the phenomenon of witchcraft, taking into account the remarkable scholarship since the book's publication almost thirty years ago.
Spanning the period from 400 to 1700, the second edition of Witchcraft in Europe assembles nearly twice as many primary documents as the first, many newly translated, along with new illustrations that trace the development of witch-beliefs from late Mediterranean antiquity through the Enlightenment. Trial records, inquisitors' reports, eyewitness statements, and witches' confessions, along with striking contemporary illustrations depicting the career of the Devil and his works, testify to the hundreds of years of terror that enslaved an entire continent.
Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Thomas Hobbes, and other thinkers are quoted at length in order to determine the intellectual, perceptual, and legal processes by which "folklore" was transformed into systematic demonology and persecution. Together with explanatory notes, introductory essays—which have been revised to reflect current research—and a new bibliography, the documents gathered in Witchcraft in Europe vividly illumine the dark side of the European mind.
The highly-acclaimed first edition of this book chronicled the rise and fall of witchcraft in Europe between the twelfth and the end of the seventeenth centuries. Now greatly expanded, the classic anthology of contemporary texts reexamines the phenomenon of witchcraft, taking into account the remarkable scholarship since the book's publication almost thirty years ago.
Spanning the period from 400 to 1700, the second edition of Witchcraft in Europe assembles nearly twice as many primary documents as the first, many newly translated, along with new illustrations that trace the development of witch-beliefs from late Mediterranean antiquity through the Enlightenment. Trial records, inquisitors' reports, eyewitness statements, and witches' confessions, along with striking contemporary illustrations depicting the career of the Devil and his works, testify to the hundreds of years of terror that enslaved an entire continent.
Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Thomas Hobbes, and other thinkers are quoted at length in order to determine the intellectual, perceptual, and legal processes by which "folklore" was transformed into systematic demonology and persecution. Together with explanatory notes, introductory essays—which have been revised to reflect current research—and a new bibliography, the documents gathered in Witchcraft in Europe vividly illumine the dark side of the European mind.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
19 people are currently reading
815 people want to read
About the author
Alan Charles Kors
26 books19 followersHenry Charles Lea Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught the intellectual history of the 17th and 18th centuries. He has received both the Lindback Foundation Award and the Ira Abrams Memorial Award for distinguished college teaching. Kors graduated A.B. summa cum laude at Princeton University in 1964, and received his M.A. (1965) and Ph.D. (1968) in European history at Harvard University.
Kors has written on the history of skeptical, atheistic, and materialist thought in 17th and 18th-century France, on the Enlightenment in general, on the history of European witchcraft beliefs, and on academic freedom. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment, which was published in four volumes by Oxford University Press in 2002.
Kors co-founded – with civil rights advocate Harvey A. Silverglate – and served from 2000 to 2006 as chairman of the board of directors of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
Kors has written on the history of skeptical, atheistic, and materialist thought in 17th and 18th-century France, on the Enlightenment in general, on the history of European witchcraft beliefs, and on academic freedom. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment, which was published in four volumes by Oxford University Press in 2002.
Kors co-founded – with civil rights advocate Harvey A. Silverglate – and served from 2000 to 2006 as chairman of the board of directors of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 13, 2016
Consists of primary sources put together in such a way as to explore the inception, growth and decline of witch beliefs almost as a narrative. One of the better ways to approach this material. Includes not only the obvious trials and churchly tracts, pamphlets and bulls and the insane Malleus (certified by scholars), but a wider clutch of writers; for instance, in the decline section, Michel de Montaigne as a guru of scepticism in general was welcome, along with the philosopher Spinoza's new take on the Devil. Also in this section, retractions by once-inquisitors -- one whose investigative reports single-handedly ended witch-hunting in Spain. Works, or as close as you can hope, in 450 pages, as an overview of the thought that enabled, inevitablised (made-up word) and at last escaped from these fucked-up persecutory mass mental events.
Grouped by time period/type, strung together by short orientations, and I liked the survey which served as an introduction. It means its pictorial content (41 figures) to be a serious study of sources alongside the text... b&w, decent reproduction, not great.
Don't be crazy.
Grouped by time period/type, strung together by short orientations, and I liked the survey which served as an introduction. It means its pictorial content (41 figures) to be a serious study of sources alongside the text... b&w, decent reproduction, not great.
Don't be crazy.
September 18, 2014
When writing historical fiction, it's always important to access historical research that's as accurate as possible. My fiction is set in twelfth century England and research into events or issues can present challenges with the passage of some eight centuries.
I wished to include the issue of witchcraft or, to be more accurate, sorcery in my current novel. Many books on witchcraft/sorcery tend to concentrate on later centuries but I was thrilled to find entries in this book that covered the time period I needed.
This book chronicles the rise and fall of witchcraft in Europe over 1,300 years, starting (as per the title)in 400 A.D. It presents contemporary accounts and primary documents. While of course these are at times more challenging to follow, the translations are accessible for the non-expert (such as me!).
There are notes on each entry, along with meticulous attribution of sources. There are also suggestions for further reading.
My only quibble would be the lack of an index as it makes finding specific issues a bit more laborious. But it is a minor criticism and certainly should not put off anyone who is interested in reading reliable information on the subject.
I wished to include the issue of witchcraft or, to be more accurate, sorcery in my current novel. Many books on witchcraft/sorcery tend to concentrate on later centuries but I was thrilled to find entries in this book that covered the time period I needed.
This book chronicles the rise and fall of witchcraft in Europe over 1,300 years, starting (as per the title)in 400 A.D. It presents contemporary accounts and primary documents. While of course these are at times more challenging to follow, the translations are accessible for the non-expert (such as me!).
There are notes on each entry, along with meticulous attribution of sources. There are also suggestions for further reading.
My only quibble would be the lack of an index as it makes finding specific issues a bit more laborious. But it is a minor criticism and certainly should not put off anyone who is interested in reading reliable information on the subject.
October 13, 2008
This is a good collection of primary sources on witchcraft crazes. There's a lot of interesting, crazy, scary, infuriating stuff in here. Also, they include many contemporary illustrations of witches, which are always worth a peep. My two complaints are thus: not enough contextual information to go with the primary sources, and the images seem just randomly placed throughout the book without reason or theme. But this is a great source for those starting out on witchcraft information, or for those wanting to delve really deep into the exact language or ideas. Unfortunately, it's not always clear what's been translated by who, when, or from what.
May 5, 2021
I bought this anthology for university and although I didn't get the opportunity to use it as much as I would have preferred, the chapters I did read were really interesting. It collect so many texts from across Europe's history; though the text was formatted densely, it was an enlightening read!
This book will also be super helpful for my own writing too!
read for a university year one, semester two narratives of witchcraft class.
This book will also be super helpful for my own writing too!
read for a university year one, semester two narratives of witchcraft class.
March 31, 2019
3 1/2 stars
Packed full of information, some easier to decipher than other sections. Fascinating really.
Packed full of information, some easier to decipher than other sections. Fascinating really.
May 16, 2019
Had to read this for class and it was so interesting! All the documents were so informative and I definitely recommend it if anyone is interested in the topic.
June 5, 2019
Boring couldn't finish
June 6, 2019
Amazing.
January 5, 2020
Good amount of historical documentation that opens the eyes into the why's how's and what's of the witch hunt
February 20, 2020
Great collection of primary source material. Not meant to read as cohesive story more for scholarship.
Read
May 27, 2021Can't star it, because...
November 13, 2011
This is a collection of documents from the past which help to explain the intellectual context of the great European witch-hunts of Early Modernity. The editors have drawn from vast amounts of demonoligical and theological sources to present materials that trace its development from early Christianity until the Reformation and beyond. Also included are two sections of plates with images relating to witchcraft as portrayed in a time when most Europeans believed in witches.
The documents range from statements from seminal figures like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas to Papal decrees to extracts from witch-finding manuals like the _Malleus Malificarum_. Most are quite short, and a professor or teacher could use them as examples of primary documents for undergraduates in a course pack, or assign the entire book to graduate students for discussion of its choices and methodologies. The editorial comments take into account the most current research on the witch hunts and recommend further reading for those interested in pursuing a given subject further.
Of course, such a sourcebook is no substitute for firsthand research, and inevitably leaves out a great deal of material that could be included. The editors lament that they could not include the entire _Malleus_, and their choices regarding which passages to include may disappoint some, who would prefer a deeper discussion of the kinds of powers attributed to witches and their analyses. This doubtless applies to many of the other texts included, which may be less familiar to readers and harder to find in translation. It remains a useful tool, and probably could be particularly valuable for readers new to the subject.
The documents range from statements from seminal figures like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas to Papal decrees to extracts from witch-finding manuals like the _Malleus Malificarum_. Most are quite short, and a professor or teacher could use them as examples of primary documents for undergraduates in a course pack, or assign the entire book to graduate students for discussion of its choices and methodologies. The editorial comments take into account the most current research on the witch hunts and recommend further reading for those interested in pursuing a given subject further.
Of course, such a sourcebook is no substitute for firsthand research, and inevitably leaves out a great deal of material that could be included. The editors lament that they could not include the entire _Malleus_, and their choices regarding which passages to include may disappoint some, who would prefer a deeper discussion of the kinds of powers attributed to witches and their analyses. This doubtless applies to many of the other texts included, which may be less familiar to readers and harder to find in translation. It remains a useful tool, and probably could be particularly valuable for readers new to the subject.
September 24, 2015
While this book is a compilation of primary sources - many if not most of them translated from their original languages into English - everything that the editors did (with some exception) to make it easier to read and comprehend was more than welcome. Each author was introduced so that one understood their background, and most of the pieces had a brief summary that came before them, to make reading the actual source easier. Very good compilation, very informative. Excellent, for a textbook.
December 26, 2021
This book is more of a reference guide then some thing you can sit down and read cover to cover. However it clarifies how mass hysteria can come about. And for that reason it is especially relevant tour times. Historically, it replicates in the present by demonstrating how political and economic forces with vast power, exhibiting obvious signs of corruption, can intervene and destroy the lives of common people.
February 23, 2009
Although a bit dense with academic writing, this book provides an excellent overview - if long-winded - of the subject.
Want to read
December 2, 2012yeah :]
May 12, 2016
Boring, required reading for a class.
August 12, 2013
Cogent introduction with a carefully selected set of sources.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews