HS2S069 - Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe 06 Jul 2023 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: HS2S069
Module Title: Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Culture and Animation
Faculty Sub Group: Culture
Module Leader:
Module Team: Ruth Atherton
First Intended Intake: SEP 2023 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 06 Jul 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

The module aims to foster critical awareness of the conceptual and methodological problems of analysing belief systems that enabled the witch persecutions of the early modern period (c.1450-c.1730) by analysing the ways in which such problems may be overcome by using different theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches applied to a diverse range of primary source material. It aims to engage students in an understanding of the reasons why witchcraft trials occurred and who might be accused of the crime.

Content Summary

The students will be introduced to the witchcraft trials by way of a range of primary sources, ranging from images and pamphlets to trial transcripts and demonological texts. The module will focus on the reasons why witch persecution began in the early modern period, and why it stopped, why women were more likely to be accused of witchcraft, and why witchcraft trials only occurred in the more central, developed parts of Europe. In addressing these questions and interpreting the source material, students will engage with, and critically assess, a range of theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches which have been applied to the study of early modern witch persecution.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Seminar 20
Practical classes and workshops 8
Independent Study 72
Directed Study 80
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 4
Groupwork 8
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically analyse the contexts in which witch persecution could happen in the early modern period.
LO2 Critically assess a diverse range of primary and secondary source material related to the study of early modern witch persecution.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Project Output 1 A group project wiki analysing a primary source related to early modern witchcraft, consisting of three parts: 1. document analysis in a format of the student’s choosing, for example, essay, audio visual presentation, oral presentation, or poster presentation (individual element) 2. wiki proposal (group element) 3. wiki pages (group element) 0 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 An essay based on the subjects and themes of the module. 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Project Output 1
Essay 1

Reading List

Jonathan Barry, Owen Davies and Cornelie Usborne (eds.), Cultures of Witchcraft in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Present (2018)

Hans Peter Broedel, The Malleus Maleficarum and the Construction of Witchcraft (2018)

Jonathan Durrant, Witchcraft, Gender and Society in Early Modern Germany (2007)

Julian Goodare (ed.), Scottish Witches and Witch-Hunters (2013)

Brian P. Levack (ed.), The Witchcraft Sourcebook (2nd ed., 2015)

Darren Oldridge (ed)., The Witchcraft Reader (3rd ed., 2019)