Samuel Hume
The History of Witchcraft
Witches didn't exist, and yet thousands of people were executed for the crime of witchcraft. Why? The belief in magic and witchcraft has existed in every recorded human culture; this podcast looks at how people explained the inexplicable, turned random acts of nature into conscious acts of mortal or supernatural beings, and how desperate communities took revenge against the suspected perpetrators.
Author
Samuel Hume
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Dec 9, 2024
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Preview of Winds of Change - Hostile Takeover 09.12.2024 33:02
The first half of Episode 2 - Hostile Takeover. Listen to the full episode here: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ARML6837257429?selected=ARML4090812395 After the death of Aurangzeb, the United East India Company benefitted from the political chaos of 18th century India. Allying with, fighting against, and eventually dominating the Nawabs of Bengal and Arcot, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Peshwa of...
Piety and Heartwork in Covenanter Scotland 25.03.2021 59:30
Witch Hunt Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07rn38z/episodes/downloads Time Travels: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b094d4hl/episodes/downloads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
045 - Wittenberg to Witches 10.08.2020 35:46
Ben Jacobs of Wittenberg to Westphalia and Sam Hume of the History of Witchcraft sat down for a chat about witch panics, memes, authority, and the importance of getting angry while also staying calm. Check out Ben's Podcast: https://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com/ Music: Intro music is See These Bones by Nada Surf. Spective - Bridge Valley P.R. & ChillCat - Soul Child ai means love. - ro...
044 - Early Modern English Witchcraft with Professor Darren Oldridge 16.02.2020 41:02
Prof. Oldridge joins me to talk about witchcraft and religion in early Stuart England, The recommended books, available from all good retailers, are: Strange Histories (2017) The Supernatural in Tudor and Stuart England (2016) The Witchcraft Reader (2019) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Extra - Sound Education Experience 17.10.2019 21:49
This is just a short catch up episode to share what I experienced at Sound Education 2019. I met so many great podcasters, many that I've listened to for years and many more that are now in my queue. www. SoundEducation.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bonus - What's it like to make a History Podcast (feat. Dead Ideas) 28.04.2019 44:04
In a special episode BT Newberg and I talk about the highs and lows of making a history podcast. What made us want to start a podcast? Why did we pick the subjects we did? When did I decide to change focus to Pax Britannica? What are the best and worst things about it? Peak behind the curtain! Go check out Dead Ideas: https://deadideas.net/ Check out the podcast website: http://thehistoryofwitchcr...
Introducing Pax Britannica 10.02.2019 8:24
A short introduction and clip from the first episode of Pax Britannica. Follow the links below to find my new show your favourite way! Show Page: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ADL3707263633 Website: https://paxbritannica.info iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/pax-britannica/id1451859986?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FQwqzI4u8waYkEaEUiXut?si=n0GT5GBASzyyl1d1GK-j8w Stitch...
043 - Salem, Massachusetts 27.01.2019 35:37
If anyone has heard of a particular witch trial, they will have heard of Salem. It's an infamous part of early American history, and everywhere in popular culture. Today's episode will be explaining the main theories as to why the small village of Salem, Massachusetts began the greatest witch panic in American history. This episode primarily made use of the following texts: - Anderson, Virginia De...
042 - Witchcraft in Russia with Prof. Valerie Kivelson 09.12.2018 50:21
I'm delighted to speak with Valerie Kivelson, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of History at the University of Michigan. Professor Kivelson graduated from Harvard University magna cum laude in 1980, and received her PhD from Stanford University in 1988. Since then Professor Kivelson has been a prolific author of books and papers covering topics as varied as Russian Cosmography, Siberian colonisation, c...
041 - Halloween - From Pagan, to Christian, to Party 27.10.2018 49:19
Today we cover the development of Halloween - its development from a Celtic harvest festival, which may or may not have involved the ritual slaughter of infant children, and its merger with the Christian holy days of All Saints and All Souls, emerging from the melting pot of American society as something new and old, traditional and commercial. Many thanks to Joe from the 80 Days - An Exploration...
040 - The Pilgrims 07.10.2018 29:05
In this episode we cover the early history of English colonisation in the Americas, and the growth and expansion of New England in particular. This episode primarily makes use of the following texts: - Canny, N. 'The Origins of Empire: An Introduction', in The Oxford History of the British Empire: Volume I: The Origins of Empire (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998 - Appleby J. C., 'War, Politic...
039 - A War of Words 03.09.2018 33:49
For a full bibliography, please see the website: https://thehistoryofwitchcraft.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyofwitchcraft/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistofWitch Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HistoryofWitchcraft The Recorded History Podcast Network: https://www.recordedhistory.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
038 - The Wroth of Woden 27.08.2018 36:25
The transformation of Roman Britain with the arrival of the Germanic pagans led to its own odd synthesis of superstitions and rituals. The Christianisation of these pagan kingdoms further added to the mix, as did the subsequent arrival and conversion of the Danes and Norwegians. Today's episode is all about the treatment of magic-wielders in Anglo-Saxon society, how they were seen by the Church, a...
037 - Suffer Not a Witch to Live 19.08.2018 27:42
This episode primarily makes use of the following texts: - Dickie, M. W., Magic and Magicians in the Greco-Roman World (2003) - Ogden, D., Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook (Oxford, 2002) For a full bibliography, please see the website: https://thehistoryofwitchcraft.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyofwitchcraft/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/...
036 - Burn to Ashes 13.08.2018 35:22
The Witchfinder General faces humiliation on multiple fronts. His critics are uniting, his prosecutions are falling, and the ruinous cost of hiring him suddenly seems less worthwhile. This episode primarily makes use of the following texts: - Gaskill, Malcolm, Witchfinders: A Seventeenth Century English Tragedy, (2005) - Levack, Brian, ‘State-Building and Witch-Hunting’, in Oldridge, Darren (ed....
035 - A Magazine of Scandal 29.07.2018 27:41
This week's episode continues the trials of East Anglia, as we see the result of the Witchfinder General's efforts in the summer assizes of Chelmsford and Bury St. Edmunds. One was headed by the Earl of Warwick, a noble with little in the way of legal training, and the other by a triumvirate of two priests and a lawyer. One goes exceptionally well for the witchfinders, and the other... not so much...
034 - The Witchfinder General 22.07.2018 35:02
This episode primarily makes use of the following texts: - Gaskill, Malcolm, Witchfinders: A Seventeenth Century English Tragedy, (2005) - Levack, Brian, ‘State-Building and Witch-Hunting’, in Oldridge, Darren (ed.), The Witchcraft Reader, 2002 - Purkiss, DIane, The English Civil War: A People's History, (2007) - Jackson, Louise, ‘Witches, Wives and Mothers: Witchcraft Persecution and Women’s...
033 - Satan's Kingdom Divided 25.06.2018 39:28
In today's episode, the infamous Witch-Finder General begins his campaign through south-eastern England, as we discuss the opening accusations of the greatest and deadliest witch hunt in English history. This episode primarily makes use of the following texts: - Gaskill, Malcolm, Witchfinders: A Seventeenth Century English Tragedy, (2005) - Levack, Brian, ‘State-Building and Witch-Hunting’, in O...
032 - Never a Cross Left 09.06.2018 36:18
The Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, did not exist in a vacuum. How could this man, who had no formal authority, tour South-East England and not only execute hundreds of 'witches', but find cheering crowds and grateful magistrates waiting for him? Today's episode will examine the possible reasons why the Hopkins witch craze was so exceptional in its scale and brutality. This episode primarily...
031 - It's Treason, then. 27.05.2018 31:52
Today's episode covers the escalating conflict between Charles I and Parliament, as harsh words led to outright war. We also look at the simmering discontent among elements of the English population to the limited prosecutions of witches, spearheaded by the Stuart court. This episode primarily makes use of the following sources: Gaskill, Malcolm, ‘Witchcraft Trials in England’, in Levack, Brian...
030 - The Lynching of John Lambe 21.04.2018 19:35
This week, we have a shorter episode while I brush up on my Civil War knowledge. Doctor John Lambe was the personal magician of the Duke of Buckingham, a favourite of James and an ally of Charles. Yet, the reputation of Dr Lambe was so poor that even these lofty connections couldn't save him... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
029 - By the Sword of the Magistrate 16.04.2018 36:49
In today's episode we see the tide turn on the English witch trials. By the end of his reign, James is unwilling to entertain the more ludicrous accusations and his heir, Charles I, continues this approach. Puritanism, the new bogeyman of the Anglican church, appears the most vocal supporter of the trials, and so the established clergy approach the topic warily. And the magistrates and judiciary h...
XXVIII - The Burning of Prospero 01.04.2018 36:12
At the great Council of Nikaea, an issue that threatened to split an empire apart was finally settled. Yet, when one of the Emperor's own sons rejects the decision, his brother is dispatched at the head of a Legion to bring his errant son to heel and bring unity to His Imperium. +The Emperor Protects+ This episode primarily makes use of the following sources: - Abnett, Dan, Prospero Burns (201...
027 - A Wonderful Discovery 25.03.2018 32:36
Today we look at the political intentions behind the pamphlet, the Wonderful Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster, and how it was purposefully written to match the published opinions of James I. We further examine how James began to regret both his Daemonologie and the act he had circulated in 1604, as he faced yet more cases of fraudulent claims of witchcraft, and a judiciary that was...
026 - Demon Women and Foul Devices 18.03.2018 32:48
Was James VI and I truly the witch-hunting, demon-studying zealot that he has traditionally been seen as? Today we take a look at the court of King James, and hear about the trials that dotted his early reign. This episode primarily makes use of the following sources: Holmes, R., Witchcraft in British History (1974)MacFarlane, A., Witchcraft in Tudor and Stuart England (London, 1970)Levack, B.,...
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