A historical time from about 1000 B.C. through 1700 A.D. when hundred of thousands of people were tortured or burned by the church over chages of witchcraft. The Burning Times reached a peak with the issuance of "The Malleus Maleficarum" of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger. This was the famous "Witches Hammer" that provided guidelines in the detection, arrest, interrogation and killing of witches. On December 9, 1484 the Pope Innocent VIII issued his famous Bull that authorized Kramer and Sprenger as inquisitors granting them exceptional authorization in the persucation of Witches.
A term commonly used to refer to the persecution of "witches" during the Middle Ages, even though many areas did not use burning as punishment for those convicted of Witchcraft. Much historical inaccuracy and myth is associated with this term, up to and including the supposed death toll of nine million.
Historical reference to the time period during the Dark Ages when millions of men, women and children were tortured, mutilated and killed because of suspected anti-Christian, witchcraft and devil worshipping practices. Most of the people killed were not witches at all but merely innocent Christians caught up in the false accusations and social unrest that characterized this era.
A period of time where Witch Hunts were common. Victims may or may not have been Witches. More often than not the victim(s) were women.
A term used for the period of persecution of witches (actual or alleged) which reached its height in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However the death, by flame, drowning or hanging, these atrocities continued until countless thousands were dead. Unfortunately persecution has continued even into the 20th century.
The term refers to that period in history when people accused of Witchcraft were hunted and executed by burning or being hanged. It is believed that actual burning only occurred in Scotland and the European continent. In other areas they were usually hanged. It is believed red-haired women were also burned/hanged because the color of their hair indicated to Christian that they had made a pact with the devil. The Christian church sought to destroy any religion they did not understand during this time. The term "devil worshipper" was not only stamped on Witches, but any other non-Christian religion which they did not understand.
It is said in reference to a historical time from around 1000CE through the 17th Century when it is said that over nine million people were tortured and burned by church and public officials on the assumption that they were the Christian version of Witches. Historians indicated that the majority of people tortured and murdered were woman and children.
Time in history during which Witches (and others) were persecuted
The period of the European witch-hunts.
A time during the middle ages when large numbers of people were executed for supposedly practicing witchcraft.
A term used by some witches for the period of persecution of witches (actual or alleged) which reached its height in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Used in reference to England, it is in fact a misnomer; English witches were customarily hanged, not burned, though they were burned in Scotland and on the Continent. In this country, 18 witches were hung, and one pressed to death in Salem, Ma, near where I live, in 1692. The sad fact is, that none of these were witches, they were all Christians who someone (a neighbor) was angry with.
Term used by Pagans to refer to the historical period of intense persecution of alleged witches in the West, generally the late 15th to 18th century. Pagan folklore claims nine million people, mostly women, were killed; scholarly estimates range from 100,000 to 400,000.
the times of witch trials, such as those at Salem.
A term used by some Witches for the period of persecution in the Middle Ages and later.
Erroneously applied to the period of the witch-hunts, or even to the entire Christian period up until modern times. Based on the myth that the Church was hunting members of the Old Religion. (see Old Religion, Burning Times)