HIST 306: Malleus Maleficarum (Chp9-12)

What was the impact of Malleus Maleficarum?

-After 1520, there are protestants who come along and there is no censorship -1530 is when the witch hunt gets bad, the worst time period is 1580-1660 -People say there was a spike in witch hunts caused by this book and it continues to have an impact bc the library of the Salem preacher has a copy

Describe Heinrich Kramer

-Born in Alsace (center of witch hunting), Dominican order, Inquisitor of Bohemia, described as really deranged -He was never respected as an inquisitor, never beleived, inquisitors should not seem deranged and should have respect, but he is challenged everywhere he goes. -In 1484, he got a Bull (letter from the Pope) from Pope Innocent VIII, the pope writes that he is a good inquisitor, and he puts the letter in the book he's writing and makes it seem as though the pope agrees with what he's writing

Describe Heinrich Kramer's book writing process for Malleus Maelficarium?-

-He used Scholasticism to write the book, in 1485 he wrote Malleus Maleficarum, in 1495 he wrote Public lectures -He used the Bull from the pope and put it in his book as a way to say the church was on his sid

What was in the handbooks?

-Info on trinity, Christianity, books on the heresies of Aryan, legal procedure, punihsments possible to bring people who strayed from Chrisitanity back to the light

How do you become an inquisitor?

-Inquisitor is a wandering judge, so you must have the credential of a legal degree, you could be certified by the pope but usually a local legal or church official does this

What was essential to the Dissmenination of Malleus Maleficarum?

-The printing Press -Johannes Gutenberg did not create it, it was actually the Cinese

What are the 4 main components of Malleus Maleficarum?

-Women -Evil -Heresy -Procedures

Why were handbooks written for Christianity?

-You needed orthodoxy, stability, and it needed to all be on the same page with culture, if you didn't know what you were doing with religion you were going to hell

When was Malleus Maleficarum written?

1487

What was the Catholic response to Malleus Maleficarum?

Added to 'Catholic index' a list of books that are prohibited to Catholics, read by all popes and probably read riskily by college students at the time

What was the origin of Malleus Maleficarium?

Christian handbooks written by Dominican monks

Who wrote handbooks for Christianity and why?

Dominican monks, they helped enforce the orthodoxy of the religion. -Many were lawyers so the made things standardized

Describe Jakob Sprenger (James)

He was the College professor, he may have been the humorous writer of Malleus Maleficarum -He included Renaissance humanism -He is a Dominican monk, he acted as an inquisitor --He got people from the university of Cologne to endosre the book

Who were the authors of Malleus Maleficarium?

The Judge: Heinrich Kramer -The College Professor: Jakob Sprenger (James)

What was Malleus Maleficarum?

Witch hunting manual