HIST 285 - History of Witchcraft

Credits: 3

Description
The study of the figure of the witch from ancient times to the present, and the historical, religious and social context from which it emerged. The course includes Paleolithic and Neolithic religion, witches in ancient cultures, formulation of the Christian witch concept, the witch hunt in Early Modern Europe and in the British North American colonies, and modern Neo-Pagan witchcraft.

Student Learning Outcomes

Recognize a variety of definition of both the witch and witchcraft from ancient and modern sources.
Evaluate the degree to which religious, social, economic, historical and political factors influence and contribute to witch accusations and trials.
Formulate a theory of causation and cessation of witch accusations and trials.
Analyze society’s tolerance of behavior that deviates from the norm.
Identify conditions in contemporary society that parallel those that produced witch hysteria in the past.
Analyze the figure of the witch as portrayed in popular culture and understand how and why this image developed.
Assess contemporary revivals and survivals in terms of their relationship to the witches of history and their impact on modern life.

Prerequisite: None