The advent of the printing press in the second half of the 15th century played a significant role in fuelling deadly witch hunts across Europe, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Santa Fe Institute. The study revealed that the spread of misinformation through printed manuals on witch hunting, particularly the infamous Malleus Maleficarum in 1487, was instrumental in the persecution of around 90,000 women throughout Europe.
The witch hunts originated in Central Europe in the late 15th century and extended for more than three centuries, resulting in an estimated 45,000 women being executed. The new research, published in the journal Theory and Society, highlighted that cities in Europe were influenced by the activities of neighbouring regions, creating conducive conditions for the escalation of these persecutions.
Researchers, including co-author Kerice Doten-Snitker, noted that the combination of novel ideas from printed books and the influence of nearby trials led to the rapid dissemination and acceptance of witch-hunting practices. The study assessed data on witch trials and the publication of witch hunting manuals in 553 cities across Central Europe from 1400 to 1679AD, showcasing how ideas spread through social and trade networks.
The Malleus Maleficarum emerged as a pivotal guide for identifying, interrogating, and prosecuting witches, with each new edition of the book coinciding with a surge in witch trials. Authorities adopted the practices outlined in the manual to manage suspected witchcraft in their communities, leading to a chain reaction where neighbouring cities followed suit through what the researchers termed “ideational diffusion.”
Dr Doten-Snitker likened the process of adopting witch trials to the way modern governments implement new policies, emphasizing that changes in ideas are reinforced through social networks and eventually transform the behaviour of entire societies. The study underscored how the evolution of witch-hunting practices in Europe was driven by the convergence of printed materials and social influences, resulting in widespread persecution of women over several centuries.