Witchcraft course: - Faculty of Humanities - McMaster University
Witchcraft course: - Faculty of Humanities - McMaster University
Witchcraft course: - Faculty of Humanities - McMaster University
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Monday Jan 7<br />
Week 1: introduction<br />
Guilderhus, ch. 1<br />
SCHEDULE<br />
Monday Jan 14<br />
Guilderhus, ch. 2<br />
Week 2: The Hammer <strong>of</strong> the Witches: Malleus Maleficarum<br />
Ques: This primary source was one <strong>of</strong> the most popular and influential manuals on witch<br />
craft. What does it tell us about the core elements <strong>of</strong> belief in witchcraft during the early<br />
modern period? Who were the authors? Why is this significant?<br />
Monday Jan 21<br />
Gilderhus, chs. 3, 4<br />
Week 3: <strong>Witchcraft</strong>, Keith Thomas and Anthropology<br />
Ques: How does Thomas argue for the use <strong>of</strong> cultural anthropology to study withcraft? What<br />
were the critiques <strong>of</strong> those who challenged this approach?<br />
Keith Thomas, “An Anthropology <strong>of</strong> Religion and Magic, II” Journal <strong>of</strong> Interdisciplinary<br />
History 6 (1975): 91-109.<br />
Monday Jan 28<br />
Week 4: Regional/Local approaches<br />
Ques: Where do we see the influence <strong>of</strong> anthropological methodologies and theories in this<br />
analysis <strong>of</strong> the Salem witch trials?<br />
Boyer and Nissenbaum, Salem Possessed (e-book through Library), chs. 1, 2<br />
Robin Briggs, “Women as Victims? Witches Judges and the Community,” French History 5<br />
(1991): 438-450.<br />
Monday Feb 4<br />
Gilderhus, ch. 5<br />
Week 5: <strong>Witchcraft</strong>, Medicine and the Natural World<br />
Wolfgang Behringer, “Weather, Hunger and Fear: Origins <strong>of</strong> the European Witch Hunts in<br />
Climate, Society and Mentality,” German History 13 (1995): 1-27.<br />
Blécourt, W., “Witch Doctors, Soothsayers and Priests. On Cunning Folk in European<br />
Historiography and Tradition,” Social History, 19 (1994): 285–303.<br />
First short paper due in class: on this week’s readings<br />
4
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