Crime and Punishment (Early Modern Period) - Matthew Hopkins Flashcards
Why was witchcraft so harshly punished?
The religious turmoil in the early modern period led to people feeling vulnerable and witchcraft was seen as a form of hersey
Why were people so against witches?
There were a lot of problems in early modern times including poverty, hunger, disease etc. and people wanted someone to blame - witches were the ultimate scapegoat
How did religious turmoil contribute to ideas about withces?
Catholics and protestants would accuse each other and believed that the other was working for the devil
What did Hopkins do?
He went round East Anglia and would accuse vulnerable women (unmarried, orphaned or old) of being witches
What methods did Hopkins use?
He used many torture methods and would use regular things, such as having a mole or a pet, and say that they were signs of the devil
When was Matthew Hopkins active and how many cases were there?
1645-47 and 250 cases
