ShortHand: The European Witch Craze – Part 1

For over a thousand years, witches were believed to be local soothsayers who used their powers for everyday charms and spells. But in the 16th and 17th centuries, Europe was suddenly gripped by a new idea: that witches were part of an organised demonic network, plotting with the devil himself to cloud the whole world in evil.<br> <br> And to stop the armies of darkness, more than 200,000 people were executed across Europe for the crime of witchcraft.<br> <br> In the first half of our two-parter on Europe's witch hunters, H&S look at how it grew into a...