Historians estimate that between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries some 50, 000 women, men, and children were executed in Europe for practicing witchcraft. Yet, scholars remain divided on how to accurately account for this remarkable phenomenon. This course rests on two assumptions regarding early modern European witchcraft beliefs and prosecutions: first, that they resist one single explanation, and, second, that they must be seen as an integral part of European society rather than a strange aberration. Thus, utilizing primary and secondary sources, we will examine how the peoples of early modern Europe-rich and poor, lay and religious, female and male, educated and uneducated, rural and urban-experienced witchcraft in their lives. As we proceed, we will pay close attention to the ways in which the witchcraft phenomenon can inform our historical perspective on such issues as gender relationships, "popular" and "elite" religion, modern state formation, demonology, magic, and other important topics. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: class participation, three short essays (3-5 pages), a research paper on a chosen topic, and a final exam. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 8-25). Groups B and D