History of the Witch

It’s that time of year again, Halloween. A word which conjures up images of pumpkins, ghosts, and of course…witches.


But have you ever wondered what the ancient origins of witchcraft is? How did the black-hat-broomstick stereotype emerge? And what causes the waves of witch trials throughout history, right up to the present day?


Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Ronald Hutton to discuss the history of the witch.


This podcast was mixed and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.


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Episoder(400)

Inside America's Famous Sex Study

Inside America's Famous Sex Study

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Medieval Sex Work

Medieval Sex Work

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What Did Jane Austen Know About Sex?

What Did Jane Austen Know About Sex?

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Sex Work in Ancient Rome

Sex Work in Ancient Rome

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6 Jun 202543min

Could You Survive Medieval Childbirth?

Could You Survive Medieval Childbirth?

Childbirth isn't for the faint-hearted at the best of times, let alone in the medieval period. What was a birthing room like at this time in history? Who would have been in there helping bring a new b...

3 Jun 202537min

The Truth About The Minotaur

The Truth About The Minotaur

Deep in an Ancient Greek labyrinth lurks the half bull half man monster: the Minotaur.What did this wild myth about a woman having a baby with a bull have to say about how humans understood our taboo ...

30 Mai 202530min

The Murderous Affairs of King James

The Murderous Affairs of King James

Against the paranoid backdrop of the Scottish witch trials, a murder plot involving King James and some of his lovers took place.To make matters more juicy, it centres around the Bonnie Earl of Moray,...

27 Mai 202552min

Victorian Beauty Standards

Victorian Beauty Standards

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