Yet another book on witches and witchcraft? Although numerous, studies on this phenomenon that had such a profound influence on the political, social and religious history of the late Middle Ages and the early modern age in Europe can never be enough. At this time the political regimes were actively involved in the witch hunts, not least the Catholic church which was intensely engaged in developing instruments of control aimed at governing and curbing dissent.
The book is broken down into thematic sections – rules, treatises and trials, transmission /possession – which reflect the multiplicity of the scientific proposals that have emerged in recent years, and also represent a conscious preliminary orientation of possible readings. At centre stage of the witchcraft show are the witches and their judges, from the theologians and philosophers to the exorcists. As well as addressing actual events, the book also explores the nature of the beliefs and the way in which they were transmitted in the various social strata, and the phenomenon of diabolical possession which conveyed the message of the presence of the devil in the world.
University of Florence, Italy
Syracuse University, Italy
Book Title
«Non lasciar vivere la malefica»
Book Subtitle
Le streghe nei trattati e nei processi (secoli XIV- XVII)
Editors
Dinora Corsi, Matteo Duni
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
268
Publication Year
2008
Copyright Information
© 2008 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/978-88-8453-809-3
ISBN Print
978-88-8453-808-6
eISBN (pdf)
978-88-8453-809-3
eISBN (xml)
978-88-5518-833-3
Series Title
Biblioteca di storia
Series ISSN
2464-9007
Series E-ISSN
2704-5986