Geography
Eastern vs Western Europe
Most witch hunts west of the River Elbe occurred 1500-1650.
Most hunts east of the River Elbe happened after 1650.
75% of witchcraft prosecutions occurred in Germany, France,
Switzerland and the Low Countries. This area held about half of
Europe's population
West central core of Europe was the most ‘ecclesiastically volatile
region’ as a result of the reformation
North West Europe was largely autonomous
Eastern Europe the most prosecutions were in areas close to
Germany or German speaking areas, such as Poland
Russia absence of belief in diabolism meant there were hardly any
persecution
Robert Thurston ‘zone no more than a few hundred miles on either
side of a line from south eastern France…to north-central Germany’
More hunts in areas of religious schisms such as Germany, France,
Switzerland and Poland
SYNOPTIC EXPLANATION: Due to religious differences. The Reformation arrived
later and was less successful. Orthodox countries in eastern Europe did
not initially subscribe to diabolism as there was not enough
communication between Eastern and Western religious scholars.
Variations within a Region
Weak administration in Germany allowed fierce hunts to take off,
such as in Ellwangen, which burned 390 from 1611 to 1618
Switzerland was made of many cantons which each had their own
rules and administrators, leading to different levels of persecution
Countries which had an accusatorial system could generally not
have intensive witch hunts because the system lacked the
sophistication to try witches regularly.
In Germany each prince determined the religion of his lands after
1555
In Ireland due to the conflict between English Law and native Gaelic
Law there was a general reluctance to use the local courts to solve
social conflicts
North and East of Holy Roman Empire with the exception of
Mecklenberg saw little witch hunting
HRE witch-hunting occurred in small ecclesiastical territories
SYNOPTIC EXPLANATION: Religious divide: the north was more Lutheran while
the south was Catholic, the Inquisition was therefore weaker
Eastern vs Western Europe
Most witch hunts west of the River Elbe occurred 1500-1650.
Most hunts east of the River Elbe happened after 1650.
75% of witchcraft prosecutions occurred in Germany, France,
Switzerland and the Low Countries. This area held about half of
Europe's population
West central core of Europe was the most ‘ecclesiastically volatile
region’ as a result of the reformation
North West Europe was largely autonomous
Eastern Europe the most prosecutions were in areas close to
Germany or German speaking areas, such as Poland
Russia absence of belief in diabolism meant there were hardly any
persecution
Robert Thurston ‘zone no more than a few hundred miles on either
side of a line from south eastern France…to north-central Germany’
More hunts in areas of religious schisms such as Germany, France,
Switzerland and Poland
SYNOPTIC EXPLANATION: Due to religious differences. The Reformation arrived
later and was less successful. Orthodox countries in eastern Europe did
not initially subscribe to diabolism as there was not enough
communication between Eastern and Western religious scholars.
Variations within a Region
Weak administration in Germany allowed fierce hunts to take off,
such as in Ellwangen, which burned 390 from 1611 to 1618
Switzerland was made of many cantons which each had their own
rules and administrators, leading to different levels of persecution
Countries which had an accusatorial system could generally not
have intensive witch hunts because the system lacked the
sophistication to try witches regularly.
In Germany each prince determined the religion of his lands after
1555
In Ireland due to the conflict between English Law and native Gaelic
Law there was a general reluctance to use the local courts to solve
social conflicts
North and East of Holy Roman Empire with the exception of
Mecklenberg saw little witch hunting
HRE witch-hunting occurred in small ecclesiastical territories
SYNOPTIC EXPLANATION: Religious divide: the north was more Lutheran while
the south was Catholic, the Inquisition was therefore weaker
