Europe 1450-1750:
Malleus Maleficarum (1486)
Primary Source
Questions
Who wrote it? Why?
Two German Monks
James Sprenger
Heinrich Kramer
Published in an act of revenge against the common belief that witches weren't real and the lack of authorities that took Kramer serious prior to publication
Created to help Christian authorities
identify and then punish or persecute
witches within the community.
Done to eliminate all witches
from the community and increase
the amount of believers in witchcraft.
Whose perspective does it reflect?
One that is religious and is
heavily against any form of
witchcraft.
Powerful but misogynistic men
that believe women are destined
to be evil and sin.
Someone who truly
believes in witches.
Someone who is very
superstitious in ever area of
their life.
Whose perspectives are omitted/questioned/challenged?
The Christians of the period
who did not believe in the
existence of witches.
Anyone who qualified as a
witch under Kramer and
Sprenger's standard.
A feminist perspective
People who are
non religious.
Those who aren't privileged in society
Which questions can this source help me answer? Which can it not?
Can Answer
Provides context on the ways
in which gender inequalities
impacted women during the time period.
Gives perspective on how people viewed magic or any form of sorcery at the time period.
"Did people like withces?"
The impact the church had on people and the authority Popes had in the town.
How were literary works written in 1480?
Cannot answer
Why was the law so different
from how it is now? What
caused the change?
Are Sprenger and Kramer important or significant aside from the Malleus Maleficarum?
Any information about how it was used or regarded after publication.
What established the belief that women were worse than men?
How did most people feel towards witchcraft aide from Kramer and Sprenger?
What does it look like?
Is in the form of
a chapter book
Separated by its numerous
sections and chapters
Yellowed paper with relatively
large print that let to only a dozen
(more or less) sentences on shorter pages
Written in Latin and
the title most commonly translates
to Hammer of the Witches
Includes complex drawings of
examples of witchcraft. Photos express
the general ideals.
Had a brown and gold cover
surrounding the pages of the book.
Had a hard cover to encapsulate the text
Some copies are known for having holes in the pages from bookworms.
Had a lock on the side
opposite of the spine.
How does the author
communicate ideas?
In the form of an
educational book that is
to be followed exactly.
Includes a table of contents
Step by Step guide
Done it an educational
and matter of fact tone.
Three sections: 1 proves witches exist, 2 cases of witches and how they are recruited, and 3, advice to judge on how to prosecute.
What are the big ideas?
Outlines the process to become a witch, the signs of witchcraft, and the most effective methods of rooting out community witches.
Death and torture are the means of punishing and torturing any witches.
Witches and witchcraft are
sinful and forbidden
There are different types of
witches that require
different approaches.
Witches are the enemy and need to be eliminated.
Women of a lower status are evil and likely witches.
At trial the witch must be brought in backwards so they don't cast a spell on the judge through their eyes.
Covers the powers witches have.
What ideas are left out?
How does one become a witch?
How Kramer and Sprenger
came to the conclusions shared
in the novel.
Any information on the
author(s)
Why do people want to become witches?
Significance
Questions
What attitudes or
beliefs of this era did
the primary source
reveal?
Ones fate after death is
something they fear.
People feared Satan.
The church had a hand in the laws
that were passed
Women weren't supposed to display emotion
Women were not respected and were viewed as below men.
The devil and demons weren't a theory, they were a reality to all people.
God was the most important thing.
There was a clear division between the wealthy and poor classes as poor women were regarded as witches.
Acts of sin were taken more seriously than they are now, such as lust being a main factor in proving a witch.
What change did the
primary source cause?
Impact lasted for over 200 years within a period known as the European Witch Craze.
The Pope authorized executions of witches.
Led to a major rise in the
punishments being administered
to the "witches"
Increased the belief that witches are real, leading to the recognition of witch craft from King James I in 1603
Worsened societies fear of witches
It became so famous it was
reprinted 13 times in forty years.
It became the book judges referenced to prosecute people for being witches or committing witch crimes.
Inspired numerous people to conduct witch hunts against people they suspected.
At the time it was considered helpful and insightful. Now it is regarded as an evil and misogynistic piece of world history.