In the land of Oz, someone could be a good witch or a bad witch, but there was a different belief throughout the 15th, 16th, and 17th century. These centuries make up the time period called the Renaissance. This era is known for many things: art, the Bubonic Plague, Castles, Elizabeth I, and witches. The concept of witches developed and evolved. People during the Renaissance era had a great fear of witches and magic. Many factors contributed to the origins of the idea of witches and magic. The courts and writings by theologians influenced people’s ideas about witchcraft. People believed that there had to be a reason for their hard luck or difficult situations and that it had to be supernatural. Women did things that were …show more content…
Courts, churches, and theologians added to people’s negative thoughts about witches. Good witches were not an option. Humans feared and blamed unwanted events or situations on what was different, unknown, or unexplainable. Many people were terrified of witches and magic that was possibly from the Devil.
Works Cited
Culianu, Ioan Petru, and Hans Thomas Hakl. "Sexuality: Sexual Rites in Europe." Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Lindsay Jones, 2nd ed., vol. 12, Macmillan Reference USA, 2005, pp. 8247-8254. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3424502806/WHIC?u=morenetsv&xid=d7dd608e. Accessed 4 Apr. 2017.
Hart, Vaughan. "Supernatural World in Renaissance Art." Encyclopedia of the Renaissance, edited by Paul F. Grendler, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2000. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/BT2354500502/WHIC?u=morenetsv&xid=72ca6aed. Accessed 30 Mar. 2017.
Levack, Brian P. "Witchcraft." Encyclopedia of the Renaissance, edited by Paul F. Grendler, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2000. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/BT2354500542/WHIC?u=morenetsv&xid=8ccc8d57. Accessed 3 Apr.