Ann Rinaldi Witchcraft

When I think of witches I think of green skin with a warty nose, a tall black hat, black robes, stirring a potion in a cauldron with a raspy laughter. An old woman, flying on a broom with a shadow casted over the moon. Witches throughout history have been thought of as evil and a threat for Christianity. Accusations could lead to hanging or burning. I am reading, A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi, “witches” in this story have been hung for the accusations. Witchcraft conceptions began in the medieval era, but reached their height in the Early Modern period. The hunt for witches in Europe began with the witch trials in the 15th century. In England an example of an act against witchcraft was the De heretic comburendo, it named witchcraft

Women who showed dominance made Roman men fearful, so the thought of a woman taking down a man physically or mythical powers was unimaginable. Romans burned witches at the stake long before Christians, the difference was that the devil was not involved in witchcraft. Any threat to the emperor of Rome was taken quite seriously. Use of “magic” in this way was punishable by crucifixion, death, and exposure to animals in an arena. Those of lower class were more often accused of witchcraft. Many people use witches for healing and love potions. These witches were called “street witches” lonely men and women would often go to these witches for love potions. Witchcraft can even be traced back to the Stone Age. Witches used “magic” with ritual dances, hunting and controlling animals. The witches and sorcerers drew different anatomies of the animal, different symbols of these animals insured so sort of promise. For example, drawling an animal giving birth would ensure fertility and in the future promising hunts. As civilization developed, harshness towards animals was much less common, agriculture developed, and people built settlements, the importance of witches was still present. Witchcraft was still considered a