How the Printing Press Ignited Europe’s Deadly Witch-Hunt Frenzy
And why this is a cautionary tale for the digital age
Throughout history, dating as far back as ancient times, women often held roles as healers, priestesses, midwives, nurses, physicians, medical educators, and herbalists.
And initially, these ‘wise women’ were neither feared nor demonised.
In fact, they were widely accepted and revered by their communities for their skills and knowledge — the secrets of both bringing life into the world and keeping death at bay — which they then passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Even women who openly practised witchcraft — a belief in which can also be traced back to the ancient world, like Roman and Greek mythology or Celtic folklore — were at first respected for their wisdom. But there was an element of fear surrounding their power, too.
That’s an important thing to keep in mind. Whether they were witches or not, these women’s craft wasn’t just a source of employment but also of a certain degree of power in a world which slowly but surely was coming under the rule of men.
Although in ancient Egypt, for instance, women could study, teach, and practice medicine — some cities, like Sais, even had schools specialising in midwifery — over time…
