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Witches

A 16-week online course

In this course, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr Laura Kounine consider the period of history in which witches were thought especially dangerous.

Between 1450 and 1750, some 90,000 people were accused and prosecuted as witches. Half of them were executed. Why then? We shall explore the religious, social, economic, political and even environmental conditions that allowed the fear of witches to transform into prosecutions and executions between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries.

In this course, we examine the development of the idea of the diabolical pact – the deal with the Devil – that elites came to believe the witch made.

 We consider how witchcraft became a capital offence under law, and how this intersected with community beliefs about the witches living in their midst. 

We examine the economic, social and religious context of witch persecution. We look at artwork, demonologies, and even original witch trial records to think about why people were accused, how authorities sought to prove witchcraft, and how people tried to save themselves.

We think about gender. Four out of five accused witches were women: why? And why were men then also accused? We also look at the evidence of werewolf trials.

And we delve into case studies: 

  • the Witchfinder-General, Matthew Hopkins, and the trials in Essex and East Anglia in the 1640s
  • the fiercest witch-panics in Scotland, Sweden and Germany
  • the infamous Salem witch-hunt of 1692


And, in a bonus module, we bring the study of witchcraft right up to the modern age.

If you are at all interested in the history of witchcraft, and the historical persecution of people as witches, you are not going to want to miss this course.

Course Curriculum

8 core modules + 1 bonus module

  • Module 1: The Diabolical Pact

    Witchcraft beliefs have been around forever but, from the late 15th century, witches suddenly became more threatening. The witch started to be seen as a heretic who had made a pact with the Devil. This shift in elite thinking paved the way for the prosecutions and executions of the 16th and 17th centuries.

  • Module 2: The Climate

    To understand why witches were persecuted, we need to understand the social, religious, economic, even meteorological climate of the period. How did the Reformation, plague, war, climate change and poor harvests create the mental and emotional context in which neighbours could accuse each other of witchcraft?

  • Module 3: Trials & Torture

    Why did accused witches confess? We explore the criminal procedure and the dynamics of interrogation, and consider how reliable the confessions produced under torture were. We ask what we should make of those who confessed freely without torture, and analyse a witch trial.

  • Module 4: Gender and the (Ageing) Female Body

    The majority of witches were female and middle-aged or older: across Europe, 4 out of 5 accused witches were women. We explore the gendering of witchcraft and its connection to the female body. What was the role of the menopause? What emotions drove witchcraft accusations?

  • Module 5: Male Witches and Werewolves

    If most accused witches were female, why were any men persecuted as witches at all? We consider the characteristics of male witches and why, in some places, men were more likely to be accused than women. And we look at the 300 cases in which people were tried as werewolves. What can they tell us about ideas of masculinity?

  • Module 6: The Witchfinder-General

    In 1645-7, one man in East Anglia and Essex, encouraged communities to rid themselves of their witches: Matthew Hopkins. We consider why, in the midst of civil war, it was thought so important. We look at the use of sleep deprivation, the odd English idea of the witch's familiar, and what these trials tell us about the lives and desires of alleged witches.

  • Module 7: The Witch-Craze

    In most places, accusations occurred only sporadically. But occasionally we see brief, explosive and contagious outbreaks of witch-hunting where, for a short, intense period of time, things got out of hand. We shall explore some of these worst witch-panics and how we see a departure from the usual suspects and normal standards of evidence.

  • Module 8: The Salem Witch Trials

    1692 Salem was the most sensational case of witchcraft in America. Over 18 months, at least 169 people were accused, 59 tried and 25 people died. We consider the frontier context, the unusual composition of the victims, and the use of spectral evidence, and how this craze was finally brought to an end.

  • Bonus Module: Witchcraft into the Modern World

    By 1700, witch-trials in Europe were becoming rare, but the image of the witch lived on. In this bonus module, we consider the afterlife of the witch, modern feminist reinterpretations of the witch, why young women are now saying they're witches, and how people around the world are still accused of witchcraft to this day.

Your Tutors

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb

Suzannah Lipscomb is an award-winning historian, author, and broadcaster. She is Fellow of the Public Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University of London and Professor Emerita at the University of Roehampton. Suzannah hosts the successful podcast, 'Not Just the Tudors', from History Hit. She has presented more than 20 history TV series, including 'Witches: A Century of Murder', and written and edited seven books, including 'Witchcraft' and 'The King is Dead: The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII'. She holds a DPhil in History from Balliol College, Oxford.

Your Tutors

Dr Laura Kounine

Laura Kounine is Associate Professor in Early Modern History at the University of Sussex. Her first book, 'Imagining the Witch: Emotions, Gender and Selfhood in Early Modern Germany', was published by Oxford University Press in 2018. She is co-editor of 'Emotions in the History of Witchcraft' (2018) and the forthcoming 'Cambridge Companion to the Witch' (2026). She contributed to the BBC Sounds ‘Witch’ podcast and the Channel 4 documentary ‘Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials’. She is currently writing 'At the Full Moon: The Untold History of the Early Modern Werewolf Trials'. She holds a PhD in History from Clare College, Cambridge.

What's included

16-week course + 1 bonus module

  • four-month course

  • 8 core modules + 1 bonus module

  • 45 video lectures

  • 8 live Q&A sessions with Suzannah and Laura

  • access to an exclusive online community

  • primary sources introduced throughout

  • closed captions on all videos

  • further reading lists supplied

  • lifetime access to the course and all future updates

Why do this course?

In this course, we offer an in-depth examination of the phenomenon of the witch craze.

  • Learn in your own time

    Through multi-video lectures and lots of opportunities to be interactive with quizzes and worksheets to test your knowledge.

  • Become an historian

    We introduce you to the primary sources – artwork, trial records, demonologies – so you have a chance to assess the evidence for yourself, and join in discussions with your fellow students.

  • Join a coven

    Join our online community, the Tudor Nerd Collective, where the lively conversation continues and our live Q&A every two weeks where you can ask us your questions

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FAQ

  • How is this course delivered?

    The course is delivered online through video lectures, readings, interactive exercises, and fortnightly (that is, every two weeks) live Q&A sessions (which are recorded and available to watch back). Every video is captioned and available to watch in your own time.

  • How much is this course worth?

    Many courses online offer pre-recorded videos or live sessions. This course offers both, plus the guided opportunity to engage with primary sources yourself, along with quizzes and other interactive elements. All along the way there are opportunities to discuss with other students. It therefore offers both unrivalled depth and unrivalled access to the tutors. It is as – if not more substantive than – an undergraduate history module. The value of this course is therefore over £1,500.

  • Can I pay in instalments?

    Yes, you can divide the regular price of the course into four monthly payments (and are not penalised with a higher price for doing so). It is also possible to pay through PayPal and, in some countries, you can also choose Buy Now Pay Later options through Klarna, Clearpay or Afterpay.

  • How much material will I get?

    There are 45 video lectures, 8 1-hour live Q&A sessions, a huge number of primary sources and interactive exercises, an opportunity to be part of a lively online community of like-minded learners, and lists of further reading and resources.

  • Who is this for?

    This course is for everyone interested in the history of the witch-trials: students, retired people, mothers of babes in arms, PhD candidates, simple history fans, modern-day witches. No knowledge is assumed; all are welcome.

  • What is this course not?

    Sadly, this course doesn't offer a how-to guide to witchcraft. You will not find any spells here (at least, we don't think so).

  • Are there any reduced price places?

    It is possible to pay for the course in four monthly instalments without any inflation in the cost. There are also a limited number of reduced price concessionary tickets for the unwaged and carers, those who truly need it: if this is you, please email us via the 'Contact us' link at the bottom of the page.

  • Why is this course more expensive than your other courses?

    There are two existing courses of the same duration and as content-rich as this one – Henry VIII: The Making of a Tyrant? and Tudor Crisis Management. At present, both are available as on-demand courses with pre-recorded Q&A sessions. When they next run with new live Q&A sessions, they will cost the same as this course. This course includes pre-recorded videos and interactive exercises to be done in your own time AND fortnightly live Q&A with both tutors. You receive even more content, depth and knowledge because you are drawing on the combined expertise of both tutors.

Reviews

What people made of previous courses

5 star rating

Once In A Lifetime

Jamie Blackford

I have been intrigued by the Tudor court for over 15 years. Suzannah Lipscomb has been one of my go-historians. This class has taught me more than I ever thought possible. The people of the court came alive, and many concepts could translate to t...

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I have been intrigued by the Tudor court for over 15 years. Suzannah Lipscomb has been one of my go-historians. This class has taught me more than I ever thought possible. The people of the court came alive, and many concepts could translate to today's world. The live lectures were amazing and covered a variety of topics to answer any Tudor interests. I would recommend this course to any history lover.

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5 star rating

A joy and a pleasure

Leanne Arker

I enjoyed every minute of this course. There was enough time between each question and answer session to cover the videos and reading. And having access to the course materials for another few months means that I will be able to look at some of th...

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I enjoyed every minute of this course. There was enough time between each question and answer session to cover the videos and reading. And having access to the course materials for another few months means that I will be able to look at some of the optional reading and re-engage with fellow classmates through the Tudor Nerd Collective.

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5 star rating

Wonderful course

Petra Ivenz

Thank you once again for the wonderful course you put together for us. I've been crazy about the Tudors for many years, and despite thinking I knew a lot, each module taught me something new. The course was carefully planned and prepared, reflecti...

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Thank you once again for the wonderful course you put together for us. I've been crazy about the Tudors for many years, and despite thinking I knew a lot, each module taught me something new. The course was carefully planned and prepared, reflecting your obvious passion for the subject. This dedication shone through in every aspect of the material. Your passion and dedication are very inspiring. I particularly enjoyed working with the primary sources and found your informative videos a highlight. Starting this September, I'll be teaching a course on English History, and I cannot wait to incorporate as much of the knowledge I gained here as possible. Thank you again, and I look forward to attending your next course.

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5 star rating

This course has been amazing

Karina King

Professor Lipscomb has put together a fascinating and well researched course that offers her personal insights and thoughts on the topic, the opportunity to view historical documents and a reading list to explore the subject should you wish. The...

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Professor Lipscomb has put together a fascinating and well researched course that offers her personal insights and thoughts on the topic, the opportunity to view historical documents and a reading list to explore the subject should you wish. There was time to meet as a group and discuss personal thoughts or ask questions to Prof Lipscomb along with the Tudor Nerd community group. The course has enabled me to look beyond, through and around Henry in a way I had not considered so much. I feel I have learned so much about the social and political background as well as HR's upbringing and personality. And yes, he was a tyrant in my opinion!!!

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5 star rating

Exceeded my expectations

Jerry Busone

This course exceeded my expectations. It was easy to follow and taping the live sessions helped tremendously to stay and or get back on track. Thank you for your work Suzannah; your knowledge and how you present history makes the past come to life...

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This course exceeded my expectations. It was easy to follow and taping the live sessions helped tremendously to stay and or get back on track. Thank you for your work Suzannah; your knowledge and how you present history makes the past come to life. Thank you.

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Price

Worth over £1,500 but yours for...

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