Witches and Neighbours, Robin Briggs' 1996 study from HarperCollins, argues the early modern European witch trials were driven as much by ordinary village conflict as by learned demonological theory. Its strength is that it is a scholarly synthesis grounded in local court records across several regions, widely cited in witchcraft historiography. Its limit is that Briggs' emphasis on social causation is one reading among several competing scholarly explanations for the trials, not a settled consensus.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
Reliability tier 1: a scholarly synthesis from a major trade publisher grounded in local court records across several regions, widely cited though one reading among several competing scholarly explanations. NotesArgues the trials were driven as much by village conflict as by learned demonology.
Citation
AuthorRobin Briggs
PublisherHarperCollins
Publication Year1996
Source TypeScholarly work
Claims Backed By This Source (9 claims)
This source backs 9 claims across the atlas. As facts: 9 well-attested.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 7 claims: 7 well-attested.
- Articles, 2 claims: 2 well-attested.
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