This podcast details the Salem Witch Trials, which took place in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693, in which more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft. The podcast explores the historical, political, religious, and social context that contributed to the mass hysteria, including local tensions, Puritan beliefs, and the admissibility of “spectral evidence.” The sources also describe the legal proceedings, accusations, trials, and executions, as well as the long-term consequences, including retractions, apologies, and efforts to exonerate the victims. Finally, they discuss the representation of the events in popular culture and various theories about the causes of the reported afflictions.
Posted inPodcast VirtualBooks