During the Salem witch trials, more than 150 people -- primarily women -- from 24 communities were charged with witchcraft; 19 were hanged and others died in prison. This book explores the beliefs, fears, and historical context that fueled the witch panic of 1692. The documents in this volume illuminate how the Puritans' worldview led them to seek a supernatural explanation for the problems vexing their community. Presented as case studies, the records...

This new edition continues to provide a fascinating account of the plague that ravaged the world in the fourteenth century. An updated introduction provides important background information and addresses the "plague denial" controversy. A new section of documents on environmental explanations for and responses to the plague joins sections on the origin and spread of the illness; the responses of medical practitioners; the societal and economic impact;...