Women. In the middle ages, they were generally considered to be far more vulnerable to evil and corruption than men, which led to the vast majority of the people killed during the witch hunts to be female.
Theoritically though, nobody was safe from being accused of witchcraft.
The witch hunts in Europe, particularly during the 15th to 18th centuries, instilled widespread fear and paranoia within communities, leading to distrust among neighbors. Many innocent individuals, primarily women, were accused of witchcraft, resulting in torture, execution, and social ostracization. The hunts often targeted marginalized groups, exacerbating societal divisions and reinforcing patriarchal norms. Overall, the witch hunts contributed to a climate of superstition and hindered rational thought and scientific progress.
There are witch hunts in part of Sub-Saharan Africa. India is another place that still practices witch hunts. In 2010, India had an 150 and 200 women killed during witch hunts.
There are actual witch hunts going on today in some parts of the world, though the people of the rest of the world know better than to hunt for actual witches. There are things metaphorically called witch hunts going on today in parts of the world where people know better than to hunt for actual witches. Sometimes the things metaphorically called witch hunts are worse. There is a link to an article on witch hunts below.
During the Stuart period, particularly in the early 17th century, witch hunts intensified, fueled by social, political, and religious turmoil, including the English Civil War. The infamous witch trials, such as those in East Anglia, led to the execution of numerous accused witches. However, by the late 17th century, skepticism about witch hunts grew, culminating in a decline in such trials as Enlightenment thinking began to take hold. The 1736 Witchcraft Act effectively ended witch hunts in England by decriminalizing witchcraft and emphasizing evidence-based legal practices.
Most witch hunts in Europe occurred between the late 15th century and the early 18th century, peaking during the 16th and 17th centuries. This period was characterized by social, religious, and political upheaval, particularly during the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War. The witch hunts gradually declined by the late 17th century, as the Age of Enlightenment brought about more rational and scientific explanations for phenomena previously attributed to witchcraft. By the 18th century, witch hunts had largely ceased in most of Europe.
In Plilibelpia!
a person employed to carry out witch-hunts and identify witches.
In Essex, during the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries, approximately 300 individuals were accused of witchcraft, with around 100 being executed. The most notable witch trials occurred in the 1640s, particularly in the towns of Chelmsford and the surrounding areas. The fervor of the witch hunts reflected broader societal fears and tensions of the time.
Witch hunt actually originates from with hunts in past centuries. From 1480 to 1750 is considered the classical period of witch hunts. The last executions happened in the 18th century.
Do you mean 1692?
Old Salem, Massachussetts.
Salem, Massachusetts