Folklore, Magic, and Witchcraft: Cultural Exchanges from the Twelfth to Eighteenth Century (Routledge Studies in the History of Witchcraft, Demonology and Magic)

This volume offers 18 studies linked together by a common focus on the circulation and reception of motifs and beliefs in the field of folklore, magic, and witchcraft. The chapters traverse a broad spectrum both chronologically and thematically; yet together, their shared focus on cultural exchange and encounters emerges in an important way, revealing a valuable methodology that goes beyond the pure comparativism that has dominated historiography in recent decades. Several of the chapters touch on gender relations and contact between different religious faiths, using case studies to explore the variety of these encounters. Whilst the essays focus geographically on Europe, they prefer to investigate relationships over highlighting singular, local traits. In this way, the collection aims to respond to the challenge set by recent debates in cultural studies, for a global history that prioritises inclusivity, moving beyond biased or learned attachments toward broader and broadening foci and methods. With analysis of sources from manuscripts and archival documents to iconography, and drawing on writings in Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, and other languages, this volume is essential reading for all students and scholars interested in cultural exchange and ideas about folklore, magic, and witchcraft in medieval and early modern Europe. Cover Half Title Endorsement Page Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations List of contributors Acknowledgements Introduction Part I Interpreting folkloric beliefs Chapter 1 The Tree of the Bourlémonts: Gendered beliefs in fairies and their transmission from old to young women in Joan of Arc’s Domrémy Chapter 2 The rejuvenating blood: Marsilio Ficino and the witches Chapter 3 The circulation and exchange of ideas, myths, legends, and oral traditions in the witchcraft trials of Italy Chapter 4 Between Hell and Paradise: The legend of the soul of the Emperor Trajan Part II Cultural exchange among Christian, Islamic, and Jewish communities Chapter 5 Artificial creation of human life: Ibn Waḥšiyya as a source of the Futūḥāt al-makkiyya Chapter 6 Fragments of a Jewish magical tradition in the library of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Chapter 7 Parallel beliefs: Cultural exchange between Jews and Christians on magic and witchcraft, and the concerns of the Inquisition Part III Preachers as mediators Chapter 8 Some reports of magic, superstition, and witchcraft in the medieval mirabilia literature Chapter 9 “Diabolical sorceries”: Vicent Ferrer’s preaching and the emergence of the witchcraft construct(s) in early fifteenth-century Europe Chapter 10 Circulation of magic and folkloric traditions in the times of Antonino of Florence and Bernardino of Siena Part IV The cultural interpretation of objects Chapter 11 The body of Christ: Exchanges and cultural upheavals in early-modern Italy Chapter 12 The natural and the supernatural: Collecting, interests, and trials of the nuncio Francesco Vitelli in Venice, 1632–1643 Chapter 13 The witch unravelled: How Pieter Bruegel the Elder developed a visual code to depict witchcraft and sorcery Part V Trading ideas about witchcraft Chapter 14 Ignorantia and superstitio: A discussion among theologians and inquisitors in the sixteenth century Chapter 15 The MP and the astrologer: Rival cultures of witchcraft in the East Anglian witch-hunt Chapter 16 A witchcraft triangle: Transmitting witchcraft ideas across early modern Europe Chapter 17 The shape of evil: Shapeshifting in the witchcraft trials of seventeenth-century Finnmark Chapter 18 Circulating knowledge in European Enlightened discourses: Eberhard David Hauber and the Bibliotheca, sive Acta et Scripta Magica (1738–1745) Index The tree of the Bourlémonts : gendered beliefs in fairies and their transmission from old to young women in Joan of Arc's Domrémy / Andrea Maraschi -- The rejuvenating blood : Marsilio Ficino and the witches / Marina Montesano -- The circulation and exchange of ideas, myths, legends, and oral traditions in the witchcraft trials of Italy / Debora Moretti -- Between Hell and paradise : the legend of the soul of the Emperor Trajan / Vincenzo Tedesco -- Artificial creation of human life : Ibn Waḥšiyya as a source of the Futūḥāt al-makkiyya / Michele Petrone -- Fragments of a Jewish magical tradition in the library of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola / Flavia Buzzetta -- Parallel beliefs : cultural exchange between Jews and Christians on magic and witchcraft, and the concerns of the Inquisition / Marina Caffiero -- Some reports of magic, superstition, and witchcraft in the medieval Mirabilia literature / Christa Agnes Tuczay -- 'Diabolical sorceries' : Vicent Ferrer's preaching and the emergence of the witchcraft construct(s) in early fifteenth-century Europe / Pau Castell -- Circulation of magic and folkloric traditions in the times of Antonino of Florence and Bernardino of Siena / Fabrizio Conti -- Against the body of Christ : exchanges and cultural upheavals in early modern Italy / Matteo Al Kalak -- The natural and the supernatural : collecting, interests, and trials of the Nuncio Decio Francesco Vitelli in Venice, 1632-1643 / Marco Albertoni -- The witch unravelled : how Pieter Bruegel the Elder developed a visual code to depict witchcraft and sorcery / Renilde Vervoort -- Ignorantia and superstitio : a discussion among theologians and inquisitors in the sixteenth century / Michaela Valente -- The MP and the astrologer : rival cultures of witchcraft in the East Anglian witchhunt / Danny Buck -- A witchcraft triangle : transmitting witchcraft ideas across early modern Europe / Liv Helene Willumsen -- The shape of evil : familiars and shapeshifting witches in seventeenth-century Finnmark / Amber R. Cederström -- Circulating knowledge in an enlightened discourse : Eberhard David Hauber's Witchcraft quarterly, 1738-1745 / Rita Voltmer "This volume offers eighteen studies linked together by a common focus on the circulation and reception of motifs and beliefs in the field of folklore, magic, and witchcraft. With analysis of sources from manuscripts and archival documents to iconography, and drawing on writings in Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, and other languages, this volume is essential reading for all students and scholars interested in cultural exchange and ideas about folklore, magic, and witchcraft in medieval and early modern Europe"-- Provided by publisher