Witch-hunts and Popular Culture (HIST*3140)

Code and section: HIST*3140*01

Term: Winter 2024

Details

Course Synopsis:

This course explores the phenomenon of the 'witch-hunts' in early modern Scotland in the period 1560-1700. Students are provided with the background to Scotland’s political, religious, and social history in the early modern period to place the witch-hunts in their historical context. The course also introduces students to the considerable body of historical writing on the witch-hunts and gives them practical experience with primary source documents to discuss specific witch trials themselves. The rolls of government, religion, local communities, gender, and popular and elite conceptions of witchcraft in the witch-hunts are explored.

Pre-Requisites: 

7.50 credits

Method of Delivery: 

In-Person

Methods of Evaluation and Weights:

Primary Source Discussions – 20%
Essay Proposal and Bibliography – 25%
Midterm – 20%
Final Essay – 35%

Required Textbook:

Levack, Brian. Witch-Hunting in Scotland: Law, Politics and Religion. New York: Routledge, 2008. 

*Please note: This is a preliminary web course description only.  The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description.  The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester. 

**Please login to WebAdvisor, once the course schedule goes live, for instructor and room information.