Witchcraft and Witch-Hunting in Early Modern Scotland module (HY51046)

This module explores the role and significance of witchcraft in early modern Scotland (c.1560-c.1730) through comprehensive study of both magical beliefs and witch persecutions.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• study topics on magical beliefs, e.g. the magical realm, the demonic pact, and magic, sex, and gender
• study topics on witch persecutions, e.g. identifying the witch, trying the witch, patterns of witch-hunting, the great witch-hunt (1662), the decline of witch-hunting, the growth of scepticism, and events up to and beyond the 1736 Witchcraft Act

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• demonstrate solid knowledge on popular and elite understandings of witchcraft
• appreciate why witchcraft was viewed as a socio-political threat
• demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of how the authorities and society responded to the challenge of witchcraft

Assignments / assessment

• essay 4,000 words (50%)
• short essay 1,000 words (20%)
• short essay 1,000 words (20%)
• discussion board participation (10%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• weekly asynchronous readings
• online seminars