1. "The Root is Hidden and the Material Uncertain": the challenges of prosecuting witchcraft in early modern Venice.
- Author
-
Seitz J
- Subjects
- Female, History, 16th Century, History, 17th Century, Humans, Italy ethnology, Magic history, Magic psychology, Medicine, Traditional history, Societies economics, Societies history, Women's Rights economics, Women's Rights education, Women's Rights history, Anthropology, Cultural education, Anthropology, Cultural history, Judicial Role history, Punishment history, Punishment psychology, Religion history, Social Conditions economics, Social Conditions history, Witchcraft history, Witchcraft psychology, Women education, Women history, Women psychology
- Abstract
The rich archival records of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Venice have yielded much information about early modern society and culture. The transcripts of witchcraft trials held before the Inquisition reveal the complexities of early modern conceptions of natural and supernatural. The tribunal found itself entirely unable to convict individuals charged with performing harmful magic, or maleficio, as different worldviews clashed in the courtroom. Physicians, exorcists, and inquisitors all had different approaches to distinguishing natural phenomena from supernatural, and without a consensus guilty verdicts could not be obtained.
- Published
- 2009
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