Together we'll explore what early modern Europeans believed about witches and the devil, how these beliefs led to the persecution of thousands across Europe and its colonies, and what these trials tell us about life in early modern Europe. We'll unpack the origins of belief in witchcraft and the devil in Judeo-Christian texts and the development of these beliefs through the medieval period. Then we'll examine specific cases and the laws regarding witchcraft in the major European nations and the American colonies.Content warning: Some material discussed may be disturbing or explicit in nature.

Instructor bio: Cameron C. Engelbrecht holds a master's degree in early modern history from Trinity College Dublin and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Central Missouri. He currently serves as director of faith formation at two Catholic churches in the Kansas City area and lives in Independence, Missouri, with his wife and daughter.