witchhunting

Witchhunting refers to the investigation and prosecution of individuals accused of practicing witchcraft. Historically, this phenomenon was most prevalent in Europe and colonial America during the early modern period, roughly from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Accusations of witchcraft often stemmed from a combination of religious beliefs, social anxieties, and local disputes.

The perceived practice of witchcraft was seen as a pact with the devil, involving malevolent acts such as causing illness, crop failure, or misfortune. Those accused were often marginalized members of society, such as the elderly, poor, or those who deviated from social norms. Trials for witchcraft varied widely, but often involved confessions extracted under duress, reliance on spectral evidence, and tests like the water ordeal, where an accused person's buoyancy was interpreted as a sign of guilt or innocence.

The peak of witchhunting occurred during periods of significant social upheaval, war, and religious tension. While thousands were executed, the reality of who was accused and how they were treated differed regionally. Over time, skepticism grew, and intellectual movements like the Enlightenment began to challenge the foundations of witch belief and prosecution. By the late 18th century, formal witch trials had largely ceased in Western Europe and North America. The term "witchhunting" is also used metaphorically today to describe the persecution of individuals or groups based on unsubstantiated accusations.