AP EURO Witches DBQ

Using the following documents, identify and analyze at least three major reasons for the persecution of individuals as witches in Europe from the late fifteenth through the seventeenth century: It was extremely easy to be accused of being a witch in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth century. During this time period, Europe was going through many changes such as the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the consolidation of many national governments. Although all of these changes were taking place, many people were stuck in their ways and did not approve of these new changes. The people that did not follow the social and political norm of the time were often accused of witchcraft.The most common reasons of persecutions of individuals as witches were if you were a female, if you were middle age and not married(widowed), or if you were not practicing Christianity. The most common persecution of a witch was if their were a female. As stated in document 8: "As for the question, why a greater number of witches if found in the fragile feminine sex than among men.. the first is, that they are more credulous… the second reason is that women are naturally more impressionable, and more ' ready to receive the influence of a disembodied spirt; and that when they use this quality well they are very good, but when they use it they are very evil..but the natural reason is that she is more carnal than a man." Women were thought to be weaker then men, so it made them easily susceptible to the devil, or demons as shown in document 11. "Mary Magdalene is said to have been freed from seven demons by which she was possessed, and christ bears witness hat usually after a demon has once been cast out, if you make room for him again, he will return to his empty possession." Women who were accused of witchcraft were often said to be "… the devil's whores who steal milk, raise storms, ride on goats or broomsticks, lame or maim people,