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The early modern European witch hunts are one of the most complex and intriguing events in history. The course will explore and discuss some of the key concepts and processes involved in the panic and persecution of witches (pre-modern worldview, popular magic and response to disasters, the emergence of the diabolical concept of witchcraft, visual representations of witches, mechanisms of persecution, gender issues, etc.). The above mentioned topics will be a gateway to discussing two other, much more fundamental issues. The first is the development of European society and its understanding of the world (in relation to magic, religion and science). The second is society’s response to crisis, which often involves the scapegoating of individuals and social groups.

The course will be taught by doc. Martin Elbel. To enroll please contact Marek Sekanina (marek.sekanina@upol.cz)