7.2 - Whitch Trials in Norway (1570-1695)

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In this episode, we will discuss which hunts in the period between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries as they reached their peak between 1570 and 1680. To understand these events, it is crucial to recognize that "witchcraft" and "sorcery" were not entirely new concepts in 1570. What changed was the involvement of the judiciary, which began actively hunting and trying witches in court cases.

Many people have a perception that the Middle Ages was especially brutal and that everything improved during the Renaissance in the 1400s. The witch trials in Europe provide a compelling example that challenges this simplistic view. During the Middle Ages, scholars largely dismissed the belief in witches and sorcery, attributing such claims to illusions and trickery, merely products of people's imagination. However, this perspective gradually shifted by the late 1300s. A belief in "black magic" emerged, which was thought to cause harm to both people and animals. Nevertheless, it wasn't until the late 1500s and 1600s that the witch trials really escalated.

The period between 1580 and 1630 saw numerous witch burnings, with over half of the documented trials taking place during this time. Researchers argue that religious conflicts, political and economic instability, climate deterioration, and repeated periods of famine laid the foundation for the witch hunts. The persecution of witches was theoretically supported by widespread beliefs in the existence of demons and witchcraft. Numerous books were written about witches and sorcery. It is estimated that around 60,000 people were executed for witchcraft in Europe and America, with 310 individuals being convicted and killed for witchcraft in Norway.