This thesis discusess the formation of diabolical witchcraft as a phenomenon typical for early modern Europe. By reviewing ancient and later Christian tradition I tried to show the development of a specific construct of femininity, which, over the centuries, combined with specific political, economic, religious and social factors created a dark atmosphere of anxiety, threatening especially the female population.
Every society has its own structure- in times of change, the authorities try to protect their current norms and standards- in transition into the early modern period the changes were felt by the entire population and the stress, asociated with it was released through the construct of a diabolical, early-modern witch.
The understanding of witchraft was different for higher and lower classes of society, but the victims in both cases were predominantly women. My aim was to show the source of seemingly natural connection between the female sex and witchcraft.
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