Ukrainian Witchcraft Trials: Volhynia, Podolia and Ruthenia, 17th and 18th Centuries

The ideological background of the tribunals is studied on the basis of works written by priests and theologians, focusing on the process of shaping witchcraft accusations and the micro-history approach is used to compare attitude towards two female crimes in Ukrainian courts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2020
Publisher: Central European University Press

The tribunals' ideological underpinnings are examined through the lens of writings by priests and theologians, which provide insight into the spiritual authorities' perspective on the devil and witches. While these works primarily focus on the formation of witchcraft accusations, they also shed light on the circumstances that prompted individuals to express their suspicions and ultimately level accusations of witchcraft.

Narratives of the trial participants offer captivating accounts of bewitchment, providing valuable insights into the mindset that drove people to suspect and accuse others of witchcraft. By examining these narratives, we gain a deeper understanding of the factors that fueled these accusations and the societal context in which they occurred.

Furthermore, the micro-history approach is employed to study a specific case from a village in Volhynian, Ukraine. This case allows for a comparative analysis of attitudes towards two female crimes in Ukrainian courts and provides a deeper understanding of the nature of popular witchcraft beliefs during the early modern period in Ukraine.

Through this comprehensive examination, we gain a richer understanding of the tribunals' ideological background, the process of shaping witchcraft accusations, and the societal factors that influenced these trials.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 163 x 235 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9786155053115