Witchcraft in the Middle Ages
by Jeffrey Burton Russell
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Description
All the known theories and incidents of witchcraft in Western Europe from the fifth to the fifteenth century are brilliantly set forth in this engaging and comprehensive history. Building on a foundation of newly discovered primary sources and recent secondary interpretations, Jeffrey Burton Russell first establishes the facts and then explains the phenomenon of witchcraft in terms of its social and religious environment, particularly in relation to medieval heresies. Russell treats European show more witchcraft as a product of Christianity, grounded in heresy more than in the magic and sorcery that have existed in other societies. Skillfully blending narration with analysis, he shows how social and religious changes nourished the spread of witchcraft until large portions of medieval Europe were in its grip, "from the most illiterate peasant to the most skilled philosopher or scientist." A significant chapter in the history of ideas and their repression is illuminated by this book. Our enduring fascination with the occult gives the author's affirmation that witchcraft arises at times and in areas afflicted with social tensions a special quality of immediacy. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Definitely getting old, but still important background reading - this gives a good deal of the context to the time of the trials.
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Author Information
22+ Works 2,914 Members
Jeffrey Burton Russell (Ph.D., Emory University) is professor emeritus of history at the University of California-Santa Barbara, where he taught from 1979 to 1988. He has also taught at the University of Mexico, Harvard, University of California-Riverside, Notre Dame and California State University-Sacramento. Russell has published numerous books show more and articles in his area of expertise, the history of theology. Early in his academic career, Russell was honored as a Fulbright Fellow, Harvard Junior Fellow and Guggenheim Fellow. show less
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1972 (copyright) (copyright)
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, History, General Nonfiction, Travel
- DDC/MDS
- 914.03 — History & geography Geography & travel Geography of and travel in Europe subdivisions and modified standard subdivisions [formerly Man and his Civilisation, now in 940]
- LCC
- BF1569 .R88 — Philosophy, Psychology and Religion Psychology Occult sciences Witchcraft
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 303
- Popularity
- 105,322
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.60)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 2
