Course Description
01:510:253 History of Witchcraft and Magic (3)
- Academic Credits: 3
- Mode of Instruction: Lecture
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Syllabus Disclaimer: The information on this syllabus is subject to change. For up-to-date course information, please refer to the syllabus on your course site (Sakai, Canvas, etc.) on the first day of class.
Course Description
Supernatural beliefs like witchcraft and magic shed light on the cultures that produce them, including how people think about themselves and others, and how they react to societal changes. Magic is sometimes used to find happiness or connect to lost love ones, but can be intended for the more nefarious purpose of hurting or achieving power over others. Accusations of sorcery and witchcraft, moreover, have also historically been employed to rob others of power. Witchcraft and magic are implicated in social, economic, and political histories, and are heavily tied into gender construction and the history of women. In this course we will investigate supernatural beliefs in ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern Europe and America, and also survey beliefs and practices around the globe.