This chronological reference compendium traces accusations, punishments, and the investigation of occultism from sorcery inquiries in 323 BCE Athens to the modern day. The text provides detailed information on actual hearings, torture, and death sentences for cases both famous and unknown. Primary sources—media, correspondence, adjudication—reveal the appalling injustices of government, church, and mobs toward the accused. Extensive appendices include a glossary, chronology of examples, and a list of legal proceedings, their locations, and outcomes.

Mary Ellen Snodgrass is an award-winning author of English and Latin textbooks and reference works for 40 years. She taught at Hickory High School and Lenoir Rhyne University in North Carolina for 23 years. Her writing focuses on women’s and world literature and history and general research topics, including epidemics, the history of money, clothing, food, and dance. She lives in Hickory, North Carolina.

Mary Ellen Snodgrass
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 301
Bibliographic Info: 5 photos, appendices, glossary, chronology, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9441-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5185-9
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1
Introduction 5
The Beginnings, 323 bce 7
The Inquisition, 1184 16
The Templars, 1307 22
Joan of Arc on Trial, 1431 39
The New World, 1647 145
The Age of Enlightenment, 1714 196
World Proliferation, 1949 227
Appendix A: Glossary 239
Appendix B: Chronology 243
Appendix C: Professional Status 246
Appendix D: Trial Locations 251
Appendix E: Trial Outcomes 267
Bibliography 285
Index 291