The A to Z of Witchcraft | Free Book
Michael D. Bailey
A great deal has been written about the history of witchcraft, but
much of what has been written is unreliable, exaggerated, or
inaccurate. This problem is especially acute in regard to modern
witchcraft, or Wicca, and its supposed connections to historical
witchcraft in medieval and early modern Europe. The A to Z of
Witchcraft provides a reliable reference source for both academics and
general readers interested in the actual historical development of
witchcraft in the western world. The focus of the dictionary is on
Western Europe during the late-medieval and early modern periods, when
the specific idea of diabolical witchcraft developed and when the
so-called 'great witch-hunts' occurred. Entries are also provided that
deal with magic and witchcraft in the earlier Christian period and
classical antiquity, as well as with the lingering belief in
witchcraft in the modern world, and with the development of the
modern, neo-pagan religion of witchcraft, also known as Wicca. For
comparative purposes, some entries have been provided that deal with
aspects and systems of magic found in other parts of the world that
seem to bear some relation to the idea of witchcraft as it developed
in Christian Europe. The regions dealt with are mainly Africa, along
with such New-World practices as Voodoo and Santeria. Entries in the
dictionary cover important people in the history of witchcraft, from
the medieval inquisitors and early modern magistrates who developed
the stereotype of the historical witch to the modern individuals who
have developed the religion of Wicca. Also included are legal terms
and concepts important to the prosecution of the supposed crime of
witchcraft, and religious and theological concepts pertaining to the
demonic elements that came to be associated with witchcraft, as well
as more popular beliefs and aspects of common folklore and mythology
that became attached to the developing idea of witchcraft. Geographic
entries are also included, discussing the scope of witch-hunting in
various regions of Europe and the world, and describing specific
examples of major witch-hunts such as those that occurred in Salem,
Massachusetts.
About the Author
Michael D. Bailey is visiting assistant professor in the department of history at Iowa State University. He is the author of Battling Demons: Witchcraft, Heresy, and Reform in the Late Middle Ages. He has held academic positions at Bethany College, Kansas, at the University of Cincinnati, at the Medieval Institute of the University of Notre Dame, and at Saint Louis University. His principal research interests focus on the history of magic, witchcraft, and superstition in Europe.
- Title: The A to Z of Witchcraft | Free Book
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- Created at : 2024-10-25 04:31:03
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