**A Timeline on 'Magic' and Witch-Craft in the Middle Ages, and the 'Church'** - **1140** -- **[Canon Episcopi becames part of Canon law][1]**. It was included in Gratian's authoritative Corpus juris canonici of c. 1140 (Decretum Gratiani, causa 26, quaestio 5, canon 12) and as such became part of canon law during the High Middle Ages. - **1215** - **[Fourth Council of the Lateran][2]** bans use of Ordeals, Canon 18 (i.e. *[Trial-by-Ordeal][3]*) - **1252** - Pope Innocent IV allows inquisitors to torture suspected herectics, by issuing public decree, ***[Ad extirpanda][4]***. It, however, did not absolve Inquisitors who tortured, i.e. for _irregular_ conduct (_re_ Canon 18) - **1256** - *[Pope Alexander IV][5]* classifies Sorcery as Heresy, ***[Ut negotium of 1256][6]***- reference in pdf. (*I cannot find direct English translation/reference*). This one did absolve Inquisitors of Canon irregularity. - **1324** - **[Trial of Dame Alice Kytelier][7]** (Irish) - the *[events are slightly confusing][8]*. - **1376** - *[Nicholas Eymerich][9]* writes manual for Inquisitors, ***[Directorium Inquisitorum][7]*** (witch-craft is defined under theology for the first time). - **1396 to 1406** - Start of witch-hunts in Western Alps (Switzerland and Italy), due principally to *[Peter von Greyerz][10]*. One of the victims is ***[Stedelen][11]***. - **1398** - ***[University of Paris condemns rituals and magic][12]***. - **1475** - *[Johannes Nider][13]* publishes ***[Formicarus][14]***, one of history's most important primary source on witch-craft, as viewed by the Church during 15th century. - **1478** - Start of ***[Spanish Inquisition][15]*** - **1484** - *[Pope Innocent VII][16]* issues ***[Summis desiderantes affectibus][17]***, a papal bull regarding witch-craft. - (and the list goes on ...) ---------- "*What was the church's attitude to supposed witches prior to the 15th century?*" **Answer**: Exodus (22:18) says: “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” ---------- *What drove the change toward intolerance and prosecution?* **Answer**: There was no change. ---------- What _could_ have caused the increase in witchtrials during the Middle Ages? (*not asked, but I'm presuming this is of interest*). A few reasons, well-documented in *[Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700: A Documentary History][18]* -- Alan Charles Kors, Edward Peters, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001. I will go with ***[Little Ice Age][19]***, as _one of the major factor_. Scientific analysis and correlation (_not causation_) with witchtrials is published here: *[Witchcraft, Weather and Economic Growth in Renaissance Europe][20]*, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Winter 2004. From the abstract: >In the period **between 1300 and 1800 as many as one million people were executed in Europe** for the crime of witchcraft. Although a variety of theories about the witch-hunts have been put forward over time, little has been said about the possibility that **the witch-hunts were motivated by a desire for vengeance in a time of misfortune**. This paper connects the witch-hunts in Europe with deteriorating weather and slow economic growth during this period. The **most intense period of witch-hunting** coincided with a period of below-average worldwide temperatures known as the **little ice age**. **NOTE:** I don't deny that the 'Church' did not always follow Exodus (22:18) but it does not mean a change when they do, because the witch-trials were (*in my opinion*) never truly about ideology - rather, it was clearly driven by material-wealth (i.e. economic returns). [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_Episcopi [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Council_of_the_Lateran [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_by_ordeal [4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_extirpanda [5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Alexander_IV [6]: http://www.historianhouse.us/Witchcraft/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Primay-Source-Assignment.pdf [7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorium_Inquisitorum [8]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Kyteler#Chronology_of_Events.5B15.5D [9]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Eymerich [10]: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_von_Greyerz [11]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stedelen [12]: https://books.google.com.my/books?id=Df5NLUONwd8C&pg=PR160&lpg=PR160&dq=university%20of%20paris%20condemns%20ritual%20magic&source=bl&ots=ozZkcQjhse&sig=xiUy1SY1UiD-KB8G1Y1ASExHUu0&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=theology%20at%20the%20university%20of%20paris&f=false [13]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Nider [14]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formicarius [15]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition [16]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Innocent_VIII [17]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summis_desiderantes_affectibus [18]: https://books.google.com.my/books?id=fswxYJDBLygC&source=gbs_navlinks_s [19]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age [20]: https://papers.ssrn.com/soL3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=522403