Friday, September 25, 2015
Printing Press Effects on the Conception of Witches
As we discussed in class and have been observing through our readings, over time the ideas of what was witchcraft, heresy, or magic developed. Especially through the 15th century, the association of demonic worship with heretics and witches developed. As Brian P. Levack points out, the development and spread of thoughts towards these "out-groups" of people were assisted greatly with the development of the printing press. The Gutenberg printing press was introduced during the 15th century and greatly assisted in people's spread of ideas to one another, especially in a timely manner. The benefit of the printing press to the inquisitors was that it allowed them to convince the literate members of the European society of the presence and power of the witches (Levack 57). Recording the testimonies of the witches, the techniques of the inquisitors to gain the testimonies, and new theories on witchcraft were all essential to the advancement of the witch hunt. Levack explained that there were two components required to greater the magnitude of the witch hunts. First is the convincing of the literate to believe and fear the presence of witches and more importantly the belief in it being practiced on a large scale (Levack 31). This was essential in order to set into motion the elites that controlled the operation of the judicial system. And this was done through the production of manuals and treatises on witchcraft. Levack wrote, "Judges and inquisitors had often acquired extensive knowledge of witchcraft through their education and reading," (Levack 54) He observed one manual for inquisitors called the Malleus. This was effective because of its writing structure. It was composed of information drawn from judicial experience and it contained enough theological citations is appeared authoritative and was more effective (Levack 56). It is significant because it was one of the early printed manuals thanks to the printing press and was therefore more widely used influencing a broader spectrum of people. The second component required to greater the magnitude of the witch hunts was the convincing of the civilians the severity and danger of witches. Of course the communities were largely illiterate. So, one would assume the printing press was limited to helping a small minority of literate people. However because of the printing press and the ability to produce more volumes in a shorter amount of time, the literate in a lot of areas were able to have a copy of the manuals and treatises. This allowed them to spread the word orally that was spread to them through writing. Levack gives a few example of exact ways the illiterate were educated on witchcraft. These include the public readings of the charges at executions, the deliberate instruction to the people, and the uses of ecclesiastic readings or sermons concerning the sinful nature of witchcraft (Levack 60). Overall, the spread of manuals and treatises to the literate caused the further spreading to the illiterate assisting in the advancement of the witch hunts. Most importantly, the ideas that were spreading were becoming more and more similar. Because of the printing press ideas were conveyed in a singular form rather than the different variations of oral recitation. This allowed for the creation of a common enemy in all areas rather than a blurry and confusing idea of who is and is not a witch dependent upon the area the of the inquisition.
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Very good points on an interesting topic! The development of the printing press really was a major turning point in the world because it allowed us to record information in a more definitive way. You also bring up a good point that it made it easier to spread this information across the land, which is interesting when you compare it to today's social media, and how information can be obtained almost instantly in one's hands.
ReplyDeleteYou give a comprehensive, yet specific summary of the Levack reading! I especially appreciated the emphasis on the point about a "singular form," spread of ideas between literate and illiterate groups aided by the printing press. It could be interesting, as mentioned in class today, to also look at how woodcuts were easily printed and distributed as a direct translation of ideas even for the illiterate.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! The printing press was a big part in spreading stories, news and in this case information on the witch hunt. The printing press made it easier to spread information through actual publication and text, rather than just by people spreading information by mouth.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I never would have thought about the printing press having such a big impact on the development of the witch hunts. It really makes sense though. It could help inquisitors build up propaganda against people they deemed witches or heretics.
ReplyDeletePrinting Press is a catch-22. Great medium for the rely of information otherwise lost in the transfer of information in the local tavern, but as we still see even today, the press, aka Main Stream Media (MSM), can have both profound positive and negative effects in the actions that follow significant events; with causes known or not. As we analyze the time period for which Ben provides in the 15th c., the intellectual still could provide a false layer in the distribution of material. How so? As much of the population still were not formally educated in the practice of reading, those that could could provide for a seeming insight that those that didn't read take as "gospel". This is a very dangerous approach, as you could consider them the newsman of the time replying pamphlets, treaties, and such that would wreak havoc for many across the land. The woodcuts and printing press material may have only reached dozens or hundreds at a time, but many that received were in positions that would spread the word like fire to the thousands. The modern digital conduit, as Sarah mentions above, reaches millions instantaneously, and can be triggers for many sensitive situations that preside; bypassing those that can quell or regulate any damage false information may result.
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