Witch Trials Dbq Analysis

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DBQ - Witch Trials (final) In the late 15th to the 17th century throughout Europe, the persecution of witches occurred. During this time, the Renaissance was also taking place in Europe. During the Renaissance, there was an increase of education, in contrast to learning, the witchcraft trials grew. Mostly women, who were seen as lower tier in society most likely because of previous views from Aristotle, were accused of witchcraft. Also during this time, religious tensions were rising from the reformation. This contributed to the growing accusation of women performing evil doings. There were three major reasons for the witchcraft trials. Women were being blamed because they were seen as weaker, more imperfect, poor and old. Many used women …show more content…
During this time, it was a belief system that women were seen as the weaker group. In the Christian society, women are seen throughout the Bible, Christian readings and by intellectuals as the Devil. Stories where women are hinted as evil go all the way back to Adam and Eve, where Eve tempts Adam into eating the apple releasing evil to the rest of the world. This is one of the original views where a woman is seen as the Devil. This is seen several more times throughout the Christian religion, where the woman is often seen as tempting the man, similar to the Devil. This is continued through to the witch trials where women are being accused of witchcraft, because of believed assocation, and sexual relations with the Devil. Women here are used to defend unexplained occurences. The witchcraft trials are very similar to the Christian beliefs of Jews. Christians see the Jews as having relations with the Devil also. This is because they are believed to have killed their own God. This is seen all the way back to the end of BC and beginning of AD when Jesus is killed. The anti- semitism continues all the way through the 17th century. Throughout the Bible, roots of anti-semitism are seen. The Christians use Jews as a scapegoat for Jesus’s death and they are blamed for strange doings or evil doings, such as bad weather for crops, throughout history. Illustrated during the Black death in the 14th century, when Jews are blamed for poisonings the Christians through the wells. Even here, Jews are blamed for the plague as a scapegoat from the true reason of the

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