Bamberg

Question 1

explain context surrounding the Bamberg witch hunts

Answer 1

Bamberg (Germany) was part of the Holy Roman Empire.
Therefore each town or city was allowed to make their own religious choices.
this meant that different religions lived next to each other
The new emperor was protestant

Question 2

explain the religious and political reasoning for the witch craze

Answer 2

the counter reformation-
allowed Catholicism to thrive again after the recent protestant reformation
the clergy was now extremely anti protestant
Protestants believe that catholics where in pact with the devil.
This was resisted by the protestants, but fines, restrictions and exilement were all put into place if resistance occurred

the thirty years war-
soldiers were used extensively, resulting in famine, and extreme poverty

Question 3

explain the economic causes of the witch craze

Answer 3

poor weather resulted in crop failure. it was said that Germany was facing a little ice age.
this inflated the pricing of goods meaning they were hard to afford
all the government money went on the thirty years war.

Question 4

who was targeted in the witch hunts?

Answer 4

*Mainly women (72.7% of witch trials)
*often middle (marital) age
*high status individuals were targeted. this allowed Von Pappen to confiscate property and give high taxes
*heredity guilt, if a father was executed, most likely the daughter would be too.

Question 5

explain the use of torture and property confiscation

Answer 5

torture was used extensively.
the Carolina law code allowed for this
*burning a witches hair
*thumb screws
*whipping

property confiscations was allowed, which therefore made the upper classes a target.
As well as this, the witches would be made to pay for their trial, imprisonment etc which made it cheap to run and give great profit to Von Pappen

Question 6

explain the case of John Junius

Answer 6

A mayor for 20 years
was brutally tortured, but remained innocent.
heathen admitted to being a witch after many brutal days

Question 7

explain the roles of Von Dornheim and Fredrick Fromer

Answer 7

Dornheim built a witch prison which could inhabit 30-40 suspects
he believed that witches should be persecuted extensively
was a champion of the counter reformation

Fredrick acted as a deputy to Dornheim
he also published many sermons on witchcraft

they both believed that obedience was needed for a well functioning society, and found evidence in the bible to back this up
Additionally, they believed that if witches and the devil used violence, it was only fair to use violence back.

Question 8

how did the witch trials come to an end?

Answer 8

1. scepticism arouse, as their was lots of complaints and counter evidence. additionally, a new emperor was instated
2. Von Durkheim got involved in an illegal execution which was not permitted, which opened questioning
3. George Wilhelms letter- advising the emporer to stop the hunts, as they were dangerous and untrue
4. arrival of the Swedish, as they invaded Bamberg, forcing Von Dornheim to flee

Question 9

why were the trials so extensive?

Answer 9

1. personalitys
2. judicial low involvement
3. high profile cases
4. the counter reformation