Earlier historians viewed witchcraft trials as a product of "religious fanaticism," while later 20th-century historians (like Keith Thomas and Alan Macfarlane ) began adopting anthropological tools to show that trials were actually driven by "bottom-up" interpersonal tensions in local villages.
This style focuses on the development of witchcraft ideas over centuries, particularly during the European Great Witch Hunts (roughly 1450–1750). Two styles in the study of witchcraft - School ...
E. Evans-Pritchard’s specific findings or explore the in more detail? Earlier historians viewed witchcraft trials as a product
It serves as a tool for conflict resolution and social control. Accusations often pinpoint existing social tensions or "veiled critiques" of modern life within a community. Two styles in the study of witchcraft - School ...