A Vicious Seed

About this episode

This episode explores the witch trials of the sixteenth century and Johann Weyer's perspective on the treatment of accused women.

In the sixteenth century, witch trials were a fact of life. Women were being hauled before courts across Europe. Confessions were extracted under torture. Executions followed. Into this world stepped Johann Weyer, who looked at all of it—the confessions, the trials, the executions—and said that these women are sick, not sinful. They are patients, not criminals. And the men putting them on trial ought to know better. This episode brings you a story of religious belief and scientific inquiry at...

People in this episode

Host: Corinne Wieben

Topics covered

• witch trials
• Johann Weyer
• religious belief
• scientific inquiry
• women's rights
• torture
• executions

Keywords

• witch trials
• Johann Weyer
• sixteenth century
• torture
• executions
• religious belief
• scientific inquiry
• women's rights

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