6.5 The Witch Craze
Who appointed themselves the ‘Witchfinder General’ and hunted witches between 1644-46?
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Lesson description
Witchcraft has a long and ancient history, but in 16th and 17th century England and Scotland there was a spike in the prosecution of so-called witches. Why was there such a rise in witch trials at this time and is it a coincidence that they often coincided with social unrest?
This lesson contains:
- An introduction to the history of witch trials and witchcraft prosecutions around the 16th and 17th centuries, in England and Scotland.
- An exploration of the different social, political, and economical factors that encouraged the fear of witchcraft and caused a rise in witch trials.
- The powerful influence of certain individuals, including James I and the Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, in fuelling the flames of the witch craze.
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