European Witch Hunts Witch hunts swept across Europe during the 15th to 18th centuries not only killing countless innocent people, but depriving women of much of the power they once had held and changing society's perception of women. Together. The economic difficulties, religious rivalries and troubled politics of the time made it convenient to accuse neighbors of witchcraft. Where there was war and poverty, or simply bad luck, peasants presumed witchcraft and rushed to blame an old, defenseless woman in trials involving incredible cruelty and horrible sadism. As religion and the Catholic Church began to complement and perpetuate the growing hysteria, European society as a whole could do nothing but watch as the face of Europe and the role of women were permanently altered. Although belief in witches predates Christianity, and myths were prevalent throughout Europe, it was not until the 15th century that witch hunts became endemic and almost epidemic. Once religion was involved, fear of witches increased dramatically, and extreme notions of the devil's powers only furthered witch hunts. With the Church authorizing the Inquisition to investigate witchcraft, the popular concept of witches as evil sorcerers expanded to include allegiance to the Devil and a decidedly evil, as opposed to mystical, character. It has been speculated that this religiously inspired genocide, which began in the 15th century, was motivated by the Church's desire to gain a complete religious monopoly and to create scapegoats for ruined crops, dead livestock, and general death that could not be explained as part of God's will. plan. If a witch was to blame, the farmers had a means to fight... middle of paper... they had to be kept in line by their male guardians. By both law and custom, women were no longer considered people, but rather property. Only a man could keep a woman in accordance with what is right and holy, because without that control and without female submission, there was always the possibility of evil, the devil and witchcraft. Although witch hunts can hardly be seen as the reason for the subservient role of women in the society that followed the 15th century, their impact is clear. Above all, the proactive role of the Church gave credence to public suspicions and fears regarding the supernatural and women practicing witchcraft. In an era in which religion was the basis of life and the root of knowledge, one could not help but be overwhelmed by even extreme beliefs, the residual effects of which can still be felt today.