Doing a school project about witchcraft and background...?

Question

Doing a school project about witchcraft and background...?
I am having a bit of trouble actuially finding some info. on the background. Here are the questions I have to answer:
What was witchcraft?
Who Practiced it?
Describe the social response to witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries.
What social and religious factors are given to account for the harsh response to witchcraft?

So if you find any good websites please let me know!
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Most "Witches" during that time period were not "witches" at all! They did not practice any form of witchcraft. Many were schooled in herbs however. Often, "witches" were outcasts who lived on the fringes of society. At that time, anyone who was "different" was suspect!
Here are a couple of sites, but you can also google "17th Century Witchcraft" or "16th Century Witchcraft" ... You don't say whether or not you are interested in the U.S. or Europe.
http://www.17thc.us/
http://www.scotwars.com/html/narra_witchcraft.htm

Answer 2

witchcraft and school project do not go well together. i suggest you change your topic. why think about witchcraft when you have so many positive projects. the projects you do in schools, colleges. office must be beneficial to you and to the society. therefore selecting a project is not every body's cup of tea, while selecting a a project always consult your parents, well wishers or just colleagues.

Answer 3

I have heard that the term "witch" comes from witt-ich or wise-person.

Both the church and witches provided a form of early medical care through their knowledge, skills and understanding of natural remedies. It was this which was, for some, their soul source of income. Both individuals within the church and of wicca (think of Wicca-Craft) were considered as skilled healers of both people and valuable livestock.

Witches practiced a form of religion called Wicca. This pre-dates Christianity and was practiced by both men and women. In addition to worship of natural elements - the sun and the moon, trees and animals,etc , people within the Wiccan religion developed forms of natural remedies - this idea would later be corrupted to demonstrate that witches were using nature for evil purposes, in the Devil's name.

Due to growth of towns and communication, the 16th and 17th century were prone to illnesses spread by poor sanitation and lack of understanding of cleanliness. Whole villages and cities were devastated by disease.

The church used its money, power and influence to propagate the myth that witches were responsible for illnesses, and indeed anything considered unfortunate or bad-luck. People were manipulated and coerced by the churches of this time to kill the (wealthy) witches (after all ... who but the Devil could be responsible for their wealth???) Of course, the choice farmland and all resources would be handed over to the church (they were the only ones who could sanctify these evil things - so you might see an agenda in play. Old people, with no connection to wicca, but had some wealth accrued from their knowledge and practice of medicine were in danger of being considered a witch.

I hope this helps you