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[–] 14 points 10 hours ago (4 children)

The witch hunts primarily arose due to women owning property and gaining class consciousness against the feudal system. Yes, men were killed in the witch hunts, but that doesn't negate their primary purpose

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  • [–] 13 points 9 hours ago (1 child)

    Most victims were of lower class and didn't own any property though. Like the wave of witch hunts in South Eastern German regions targeting the homeless: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaubererjackl_witch_trials

    There wasn't really any primary purpose. Many were done just as a reaction to economic hardship by the general population in mass hysterias without any deeper meaning.

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  • [–] 15 points 10 hours ago (1 child)

    A lot of the witch trials were for the church, and the aristocracy, to prevent anyone challenging their authority. Ie, practicing herbal medicine was a big one. Any Shamans of barbarian tribes they wanted to convert, all sorts of stuff like that.

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