The classical period of witch-hunts in Europe falls into the Early Modern period or about 1450 to 1700, spanning the upheavals of the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War, resulting in tens of thousands of executions. But things were different in different parts of Europe, Spain ran the Inquisition primarily to convert or expel Jews but witches got their fair share of torment under the Inquisitors as well, Germany and France held public burnings, Scandinavia refused to participate for the most part.
But in England (I noticed you placed the question in English History) attitudes and accusations were very different than in Europe. You may be interested in the Related Link. On that page, the section titled Laws & Declarations, especially the Acts relating to England, may be of interest and there are also two articles further down entitled The Pope Blesses Torture and Witches: Religious Martyrs? respectively that are interesting reads regarding the accusations and feat attributed to witches.
In the seventeenth century, people believed that witches had made a pact with the devil and possessed supernatural powers to harm others. This fear of witches was heightened by religious beliefs and the prevailing social and political conditions, such as the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years' War. The lack of scientific understanding and the scapegoating of marginalized individuals, particularly women, also contributed to the fear and persecution of witches.
superstitious and intolerant
Because back then they thought that witches were really bad people so the people who they thought were witches actually weren't it was just a disease that people were getting from eating really moldy bread.
Salem Witch Trials had to do with a group of girls accusing women for witch craft, while in McCarthyism a man accused people for being communist.
It is mainly because witches tended to be wise women and healers which required the women to be older.
Its not just women, men do as well and they are still called witches, its a genderless term. People choose to be witches and practice witchcraft because of their beliefs and desires.
Being a land owner...so after death property could be stolen. Vulnerable. Mostly women. Vendetta to be satisfied by falsely accusing another. The usual corrupt leaders...doing what they have always done
The three witches
Witches were commonly thought to be old women, poor and usually unprotected. They were often single women or widows. Also witches were closely associated with living alone (in a house in the woods). Common pets for a witch to have were frogs, ravens, goats and mice.
About 100 people sign a petition so that they may testify for the women who were accused of being witches. These same people were later arrested for being witches.
In the seventeenth century, people believed that witches had made a pact with the devil and possessed supernatural powers to harm others. This fear of witches was heightened by religious beliefs and the prevailing social and political conditions, such as the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years' War. The lack of scientific understanding and the scapegoating of marginalized individuals, particularly women, also contributed to the fear and persecution of witches.
No, Saint Patrick did not kill or burn witches.
No ^^
No - women accused of being witches were hunted tortured and killed.
'The swimming of witches' was when a women, accused of being a witch, was dragged down a river.
superstitious and intolerant
The Pendle Witches or Lancashire Witches were the most famous witches in English legal history. In the year 1612, at Lancaster goal, in the English county of Lancashire, ten men and women were hanged for the crime of witchcraft. The Pendle Witches, as they became known, were believed to have been responsible for the murder by witchcraft of seventeen people in and around the Forest of Pendle.