Witches and Witch-Hunts: A Global History

by Wolfgang Behringer

In this major new book, Wolfgang Behringer surveys the phenomenon of witchcraft past and present. Drawing on the latest historical and anthropological findings, Behringer sheds new light on the history of European witchcraft, while demonstrating that witch-hunts are not simply part of the European past. Although witch-hunts have long since been outlawed in Europe, other societies have struggled with the idea that witchcraft does not exist. As Behringer shows, witch-hunts continue to pose a major problem in Africa and among tribal people in America, Asia and Australia. The belief that certain people are able to cause harm by supernatural powers endures throughout the world today.

Wolfgang Behringer explores the idea of witchcraft as an anthropological phenomenon with a historical dimension, aiming to outline and to understand the meaning of large-scale witchcraft persecutions in early modern Europe and in present-day Africa. He deals systematically with the belief in witchcraft and the persecution of witches, as well as with the process of outlawing witch-hunts. He examines the impact of anti-witch-hunt legislation in Europe, and discusses the problems caused in societies where European law was imposed in colonial times. In conclusion, the relationship between witches old and new is assessed.

This book will make essential reading for all those interested in the history and anthropology of witchcraft and magic.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Witches, Witchcraft, Anthropology, Religion

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[J.M. Hushour · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Witches better have my money." - Chonrad Molitoris, in Siquae fit aliquid deperit , 1509.

Heavier on the witch-hunts than the witches, so don't expect much in the way of unguents or tennis-ball-in-sock-breasted crones riding on spatulas. Much more academic than other works of its ilk, Behringer digs into the nitty-gritty of inquisitorial Europe. There's a wealth of detail here on the trials themselves, the results, its effects and roots, and the eventual outlawing of persecution. There's lengthy bits, too, on witch persecution on a global scale which, for the scholar, is probably its greatest worth. What witchcraft was and where it came from and all that, you're better off looking at Hutton or Ginzburg. This one is more about the sad-sack assholes who killed thousands for often simply smelling wrong.

[Barawe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Problém téhle knihy je souvislý vodopád padající přes čtyřista stran týkající se velmi podobných informací. Autor například přijde k jednomu období honu na čarodějnice, vysvětlí že byla zapříčiněna dlouhodobě špatným počasím, neshodám v církvi a epidemií černého kašle, popíše jí a pak....to samé udělá xy krát. Samozřejmě, ty události nejsou úplně stejné. Odchylky existují, zdůraznit by se měly, proto si myslím, že záživnější by bylo vykreslit čtenářovi obrázek dané doby, nejčastější důvody vzrůstu honů na čarodějnice, a pak ukázat na jednotlivé, zajímavé odchylky. Autor má u mě respekt za tak složitou, objektivní a podrobnou práci, pro kterou musel jistě využít desítky dalších....ale co na plat, když jí dokáží přečíst jen velmi trpěliví či zapálení jedinci? Já u ní také vydržela jen díky tomu, že jsem musela.

[Aashna L.K. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reference for any scholar of witchcraft

[Katy-Fay]

No rating as I read for school but i didn’t enjoy reading this and the points are kinda weak

[Krystina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a global history. Mostly European with sprinkles of other places.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike many books on witch-hunts, Behringer brings this topic up to the twenty-first century. Not the most engaging book, it does, however, have plentiful information and is authoritative on the Malleus Maleficarum. For further thoughts see: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.