The role of magic in society

Question 1

How was the church involved with magic in society ?

Answer 1

Church was a safeguard via excorsims , holy water and blessings - Preists prayed for crops

E.G when the wine harvest failed , villagers whipped a statue of the saint that failed them

Question 2

What was superstition like during this period ?

Answer 2

Chanting and mystical songs , objexts and impages could become vessles of magical power and could help people

Balkans - garlic used to prevent evil spirits

Belief of these practices provided means of copying and adapting to a world that was frequently subject to period of upheaval like droughts and war

Question 3

What was the role of cunning folk and white magic ?

Answer 3

Cunning folk would be called to help with matters of illness - crop failure and bewitchment

White magic was good magic used to help people

Question 4

What was black magic ?

Answer 4

Magic which caused harm used to kill people or cause bad harvests

Witches believed to hold the power of black magic - elite groups believed that the idea of witches entered in a diabolical pact with the devil

Educated elite amongst poor people believed the same