Witchcraft in
Elizabethan Times
By Jasmyn Weidler, Sierra Sommerio
& Werner Gaxiola
Resources 1/2
Vocabulary
MP 5: The Black Death
The Black Death was a very powerful illness going around during the Elizabethan Times. Black Death had such a negative impact on the witches and warlocks. People believed it was caused by supernatural beings, that they were responsible for such sickness and death. People felt fear just to survive the darkest times of witchcraft.
Black Death: a brutal disease killing millions of people without warning.
Clergy: to refer to the formal religious leadership within some religions.
Alchemy: any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance with great value.
Drawn and Quartered: tied down by four horses, having them pull the body in different directions so it splits apart in fours.
Leniency: inclined not to be harsh or strict; merciful; generous, or indulgent.
"The Witches of Elizabethan times - Where the Fun Begins!" Where the Fun Begins! Ed. Josh Large. India Harrison, 04 Oct. 2012. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://readmedotcom.weebly.com/the-witches-of-elizabethan-times.html>.
"ElizabethanCrime and Punishment." Elizabethan Crime and Punishment. William Shakespeare Info, 2005. Web. 07 Oct. 2012. <http://www.william-shakespeare.info/elizabethan-crime-punishment.htm>.
BBC. "Why Were Women More Likely to Be Accused for Witchcraft in Elizabethan Times?" BBC News. BBC, 2012. Web. 07 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/why-were-women-more-likely-to-be-accused-of-witchcraft-in-elizabethan-times/10128.html>.
MP 3: The Punishments
If you were accused the punishments were harsh, and continue to become more harsh. The punishments were based on the class you were on (Upper class, Middle, Below)
Many innocent people were burnt at the stake in front of crowds, as a warning.
People were drawn and quartered, hung, and drowned. If you survived, you were a Witch/warlock. If you drowned, you were innocent.
MP 1: Beginning of witchcraft in England
MP 6: The REAL cause
of Black Death
Resources 2/2
Witchcraft began in the 1300-1600s. It came from Paganistic beliefs and rituals that mixed with Indo-European descended groups. Over many centuries practices with potions, ointments, casting spells, and performing works of magic came to place. These practices were adopted by the Celts and other groups, also known as witchcraft.
Black Death was caused by fleas, carried by rats that were very common in towns and cities. The fleas bit into their victims literally injecting them with the disease.
Essential Questions
Masters, Ravine. "Black Death and Witchcraft in Elizabethan times." Ezine Articles. Ezine Articles, 2012. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Black-Death-and-Witchcraft-in-the-Elizabethan-Age&id=989028>.
HistoryLearningSite. "The Black Death of 1348 to 1350." The Black Death of 1348 to 1350. Ask.com, 2012. Web. 07 Oct. 2012. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/black_death_of_1348_to_1350.htm>.
WilliamShakespeareSite-Map. "ElizabethanCrime and Punishment." Elizabethan Crime and Punishment. William Shakespeare Info, 2005. Web. 07 Oct. 2012. <http://www.william-shakespeare.info/elizabethan-crime-punishment.htm>.
1. What was the Black Death and where did it come from?
2. What were some things that the “witches/warlocks” were accused of?
3. Who was a target for being a
4. How were the “witches/warlocks” punished?
5. What does it mean to be “Drawn and Quartered”?
Overview
MP 4: People Being Accused of Witchcraft
MP 2: The Crime
MP 1: Beginning of Witchcraft in England
MP 2: The Crime
MP 3: The Punishments
MP 4: People Being Accused of Witchcraft
MP 5: The Black Death
MP 6: The REAL cause of Black Death
Anyone could have been accused as being a Witch/warlock in these days. Any suspicious movement and you could have been put to death immediately. It was mostly common for women to be accused because they were harmless. Innocent people made the clergy suspicious of them being involved in witchcraft.
People were often accused of being witches/warlocks if they were seen striking people down with illness, disease or madness.
If a sudden fire, thunderstorm, or bad harvest occurred people were accused of using Witchcraft and farther torture took place.