Development of the state Flashcards
(11 cards)
What was the impact of rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries on witch hunts?
Rulers brought various territories under more effective political and legal control, which likely encouraged witch hunts.
How did state centralization affect witch hunts?
As European states centralized power, they had more capacity to legislate and enforce laws, leading to more intense witch hunts, especially in regions like the Holy Roman Empire.
What was the relationship between state power and witch trials?
States that were less centralized, like England, experienced fewer witch trials, suggesting a link between state power and the intensity of witch hunts.
What legal changes occurred regarding witchcraft in the Holy Roman Empire?
The Holy Roman Empire’s Carolina Code of 1532 codified laws against witchcraft, standardizing severe punishments and legitimizing witchcraft accusations.
What was the inquisitorial system in the 13th and 14th centuries?
Judges investigated crimes and decided guilt, requiring testimony from two eyewitnesses or a confession for capital crimes, often relying on confessions due to difficulty obtaining eyewitness accounts.
How did torture play a role in witchcraft prosecutions?
Torture was used to extract confessions, with a high conviction rate of 95% when used, despite awareness that such confessions could be unreliable.
What was the case of Agnes Sampson?
Agnes Sampson was tortured during the North Berwick Witch Trials, leading to her confession of witchcraft and subsequent execution.
She was subjected to sleep deprivation and a witch’s bridle, ultimately confessing to a pact with the devil.
What was the effectiveness of forced sleeplessness as torture?
Forced sleeplessness was the most successful form of torture, with fewer than 2% of victims enduring it without confessing.
How did local initiatives compare to government actions in witch hunts?
Few strong governments actively promoted witch-hunting; the real initiative came from localities, with central courts often restricting witch-hunting.
What was the situation in England regarding witch persecutions?
England had a long history of political and judicial centralization, resulting in few witch persecutions compared to regions with weaker central authority.
What characterized the worst witch hunts?
The worst witch hunts occurred in areas where central authority was weak, such as the Holy Roman Empire with its many autonomous territories.
