Publisher's Synopsis
In this groundbreaking study, Steije Hofhuis delves into the perplexing phenomenon of witch hunts in early modern Europe, challenging conventional explanations and proposing a novel perspective rooted in Darwinian cultural evolution. Were witch hunts an intentional tool of oppression, a means of economic gain, or driven by genuine belief in witchcraft? Hofhuis presents a compelling argument that the seemingly designed elements of the witch hunts, such as the witches' sabbath and diabolical pact, emerged from a hidden evolutionary process. This process, he suggests, allowed for the unintentional preservation and reproduction of cultural variants, leading to larger and more persistent persecutions. Drawing parallels with contagious diseases, the study explores whether witch-hunts were a cultural 'virus' spreading at the expense of human hosts. This work bridges the gap between qualitative history and Darwinian cultural evolution, offering a fresh perspective on a complex historical phenomenon.
