How was magic viewed and used before the witch trials? Why did so many people willingly admit to being witches? And how, and why, was a nine year old girl able to condemn her family to death as witches?
In Betwixt the Sheet’s limited podcast series Inside the Witch Trials, host Kate Lister investigates stories of witch trials in England, Iceland and colonial Massachusetts. She is joined by historians Eleanor Janega, Ronald Hutton, Ólína Kjerulf Þorvarðardóttir and Marion Gibson.
Across three episodes, Inside the Witch Trials explores the influence of the Reformation in stoking paranoia, how Iceland’s history of magic impacted ideas around witchcraft, and tales such as those of Tituba’s, an enslaved woman whose testimony sparked panic in her remote village.
1. Pendle: The Child Who Condemned Her Family
People in the 17th century were at spiritual war with the devil. It was a time of huge upheaval. What became known as the witch trials soon followed.
In this first episode of Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to the English village of Pendle in 1612 to find out how and why a nine year old girl was able to condemn her family to death as witches.
How was magic viewed and used before the witch trials? What influence did the Reformation play in stoking fears and paranoia? And what became of the girl who stood up in court to accuse her family of witchcraft?
Kate is joined by historians Eleanor Janega, co-host of Gone Medieval, and Ronald Hutton.
2. Iceland: The Men Who Burned As Witches
When we think of the witch trials, we often think of women being charged. Whilst misogyny was at the heart of many of the witch trials, this isn’t the full story. In this second episode in the series, we go back to the Westfjords of Iceland, to find out why it was mostly men, not women, who were burned at the stake for witchcraft.
How did society differ from the rest of Europe at this time? How did Iceland’s history of magic impact ideas around witchcraft? And what hope did you have if you were accused of being a witch?
Kate is joined by Dr. Ólína Kjerulf Þorvarðardóttir, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Bifröst.
3. Salem: Fear In A New World
We often think of the witch trials as something in the deep and distant past. But, as we’ll hear in this episode, the attitudes and behaviour that led to witch trials remain present today.
In this third and final episode of Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to Salem, Massachusetts, to find out how colonialism, racism and a radical ideology created a witch trial that’s as relevant today as it was in the 17th century.
What was life like for Puritans in this new and unfamiliar land? Why did so many people willingly admit to being witches? And what became of Tituba, the enslaved woman whose testimony sparked panic in this remote village?
Kate is joined by Professor Marion Gibson, author of Witchcraft: A History in 13 Trials, to find out.