answersLogoWhite

0

The witch hunts of Europe began in 1563, in Wiesensteig, Germany, with widespread prosecution and the execution of 63 people.

Though people were prosecuted for witchcraft throughout ancient and medieval times, the large scale action of finding, prosecuting, and punishing groups of people did not begin until later.

Please use the link below for more information.

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about History of Western Civilization

How long did the witch hunt lasted?

a long time


When was the witch-hunt?

There have been many different witch hunts but the most commonly known one was from about 1480 to 1700.


What is the definition of a witch hunt?

In an historical perspective, it was the search, or hunting of witches or evidence of witchcraft that in some instances were actually legally sanctioned searches that led to the arrest and trials of many individuals many of whom were executed in horrible ways. Many of these actual witch hunts were fueled by mass hysteria and panic that led to mob lynches. This period of witch hunts spanned the late 1400's up until the 1700's where hundreds of thousands of men and women were executed for witch craft. Before Arthur Miler wrote the play The Crucible, there does not seem to be another historical event ever to using witch hunts as a political or social metaphor. Miller used his own experiences with the House on Un-American Activities Committee, (HUAC), and paralleled it to the Salem witch hunts of 1692. The Crucible was first performed in New York in 1953. Since that day the term witch hunt has come to mean: Searching out and harassing dissenters.


Who created the witch hunt?

Many think that the witch hunts of Early Modern Europe were caused by the invention of the printing press. The first texts to be produced were Christian texts, like the Bible, which promoted ideas about Satanic witchcraft practices. Unexplainable events like the Black death could be blamed on witches, causing a mass hysteria.


When and why did the witch hunts end?

The witch hunts largely ended in the late 17th century, with a significant decline by the early 18th century. This shift was influenced by the Enlightenment, which promoted rational thought and skepticism of superstition and religious fanaticism. Legal reforms, along with a growing awareness of the injustices and social consequences of the hunts, also contributed to their decline. By the 18th century, many societies began to reject the witch hunt mentality, viewing it as a violation of human rights.