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Friends,
I was once asked why only ‘witches’ existed in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. I was taken aback by the question because ‘witches’ or the ‘supernatural’ had long existed before and long after that time.
Honestly, I didn’t know where to start. Probably my most embarrassing moment as a historian. As someone who studies myths and legends, I sometimes forget that most people don’t believe in the possibility of ‘supernatural’ or understand why they were written out of existence.
Or were they?
History books would have you believe that ‘witches’ were confined to a singular historical point because it was the most devastating. That was the period when we saw religion fighting back against the evil, devil-worshiping men and women who were trying to disrupt law and order. We focus on this time because society loves a good story filled with blood, gore, and the unexplainable.
And history would have you believe the church succeeded in eradicating evildoers.
I have another theory.
All About Discovery
Travel back with me a few years before the 16th century and talk about books—or, better yet, the lack of them. Have you ever visited a history museum and wondered where the artifacts originated? Or how they ended up in the museum?
And why in the hell is there usually only one?
Time and environmental conditions. Just like how the human body begins to degrade over the years, boobs become saggy, hair goes limp, and muscles lose their mass- paper, scrolls, and tablets suffer the same fate. It is rare to find artifacts from ancient times. It relies on luck and being at the right place at the right time. Here is a list of some ‘recent’ discoveries as far as ancient books-
–Etruscan Gold Book, discovered off the Strouma River in Bulgaria: estimated age, over 2,600 years old
– Pyrgi Gold Tablets, discovered in a sanctuary in ancient Pyrgi, Italy: estimated age: over 2,500 years old
– Nag Hammadi Codices, discovered in a sealed jar in the town of Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt: estimated age: over 1,600 years old
– St Cuthbert Gospel, discovered on the island of Lindisfarne off Northumberland in a grave: estimated age: over 1,300 years old
– Book of Kells, created by Celtic monks around 800 AD: estimated age: over 1,200 years old.
Production, Production, Production
I bring up these books because history is defined by what is discoverable. We don’t give a theory a second thought if we don’t have proof that something happened or existed. As a society, we often tend to dismiss oral history as nothing more than myths and legends.
For whatever reason, the proof must be written and verified by three other texts to be considered legitimate.
Words are law. Then, consider the issue of mass-producing texts so that the majority can consume the information. Only then does something become believable.
It’s like we don’t believe the news unless it’s on social media and ‘shared’ by thousands of people. The number of people who consume the knowledge and agree with it makes it ‘true.’
Legitimizing Witches
Now, when it comes to the concept of ‘witches,’ a few pieces of ‘written word’ legitimized their existence.
The first was the publication of Malleus Maleficarum, written in 1486 by Dominican Heinricus Institoris and Jacobus Sprenge. This horrifying book claims that witches do exist and challenges those who believe otherwise. It goes on to describe in detail how to find witches, interrogate them, and ultimately kill them—but that is a blog for another day.
In 1541, King Henry VIII enacted his infamous Witchcraft Act, which classified witchcraft as a felony punishable by death.
In 1563, the Scottish Witchcraft Act made the practice of witchcraft and consulting with witches a capital offense.
Ireland jumped on the bandwagon and published their Irish Witchcraft Act in 1586.
In 1641, the U.S. wrote the Body of Liberties, which included witchcraft among its capital offenses.
Now, we have two ways to look at this. Either there needed to be a scapegoat for all the crap that was happening in the world at the time, like the plague, droughts, and an increase in religious fervor that needed a tangible ‘bad guy’ because no one had ever met the devil.
Or witches did exist.
Flow Of Information
Honestly, this is one of those blogs that should be a book. There are so many side stories to ‘Witches’ and ‘Supernatural’ that I could go on and on. But in the interest of time, I will stick to the original question.
Why did witches only exist in the 16th, 17th, and early 18th centuries? The answer is easy, because that is when the concept of witchcraft first appeared in writing. Numerous publications across different countries further legitimized it.
Countries that mostly didn’t like each other, so it wasn’t like the rulers were getting together for dinners and swapping stories.
The information was then mass-published. Even if you couldn’t read, the clergymen discussed it at church. Local law enforcement went hunting for witches, fueled by a piece of parchment that told them what to look for. The people saw their neighbors being brought in for trial, heard the charges, and then watched them die for their crimes against humanity.
I compare it to something going viral on the internet. Once the information is out, you can’t rein it back in. And in this case, the ‘hot take’ was that witches existed.
Things Die Out
After the devastation of communities and the blood bath that followed these proclamations, I think governments saw that they created a monster. They needed to regroup and regain control of their countries. And so they let the witch hunts die out. They no longer made it their top priority to rid the world of the ‘devil’s influence.’
And just like that, witches and the supernatural no longer existed. This was around the time of the Age of Enlightenment, when science began to replace religion, and facts and data took precedence over belief.
Did witches ever exist? According to my research into myths and legends, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a group of people may once have possessed natural abilities perceived as magical.
There is enough belief in the old gods for me to honestly say that I think there were, at one point, people with talents and knowledge that may be construed as ‘god-like’ and that people followed them because they gave society what it needed—a belief in something better.
No different than Jesus, Buddha, Prophet Muhammad, Yahweh, Allah, etc…
Final Thoughts
I don’t want to portray the concept of witches and the supernatural abstractly. Behind the idea of magic lies the grave of thousands of innocent men, women, and children who were murdered because of people’s fear of the unknown.
Witches have existed for just as long as the gods. People with the abilities to heal, manipulate, and even do things that may seem a little outrageous. Did they ever jump on a broomstick and fly during a full moon? Most likely not.
But some people know how to brew potions that could save lives or end them. Some individuals use herbs and flowers to induce a trance-like state, allowing them to see visions. Some cultures have dolls and other small tokens they use to send good or bad vibes to others.
Witchcraft is an abstract concept created by modern religion. It’s up to you to decide what can be deemed ‘magical’ or a ‘miracle of god.’
But for me, witches did exist and still do.
And I respect them for their belief in their practice, as long as it does not harm.
Until next time, Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.
For those hungry to explore more, click below to find additional readings:
Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials. Exploring how witchcraft was feared, then decriminalized, and then reimagined as gendered persecution, Witchcraft takes on the intersections between gender and power, indigenous spirituality and colonial rule, political conspiracy and individual resistance.
Witchcraft. The Library of Esoterica. Initiating readers in the fascinating and complex history of witchcraft, from the goddess mythologies of ancient cultures to the contemporary embrace of the craft by modern artists and activists, this expansive tome conjures up a breathtaking overview of an age-old tradition.
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If you’re looking for your next favorite read, I invite you to check out my series, The Raven Society. This spellbinding historical fantasy series takes us on a heart-pounding journey through forgotten legends and distorted history. Uncover the chilling secrets of mythology and confront the horrifying truths that transformed myths into monstrous realities. How far will you go to learn the truth?
The Writer and The Librarian (Book 1):
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Sources:
THE HAMMER OF WITCHES: A Complete Translation of the Malleus Maleficarum
Why Europe’s Oldest Intact Book Was Found in a Saint’s Coffin – JSTOR Daily