Various types of alleged supernatural entities are believed to have plagued people in Western Civilization from Ancient to Modern times. Western Civilization includes not only Europe, but also places colonized by Europeans, including, for example, North America. To that end, we begin by examining the earliest examples of perceived supernatural beings, such as the Minotaur from Ancient Greece. From there, we address the Medieval and Early modern witch hunts that terrorized mostly women as well as a smaller number of men in England, France, and Germany, and the English colony of Massachusetts. We ultimately conclude by covering more modern fears of similar and newer supernatural creatures. We consider what aspects of these beliefs and related persecutions changed over time and across cultures and what aspects of belief in the supernatural were constant in each respective culture and time period. Through a combination of documentary films, readings of primary and secondary sources, and discussions, we seek to understand why fears of paranormal and cryptozoological beings have been so pervasive in Western culture from its earliest beginnings through the present. These fears have resulted in widespread persecution, execution, and exorcism of thousands of men, women, children, animals, and, even in at least one case, an iceberg (in the 1600s during The Little Ice Age) as alleged demons, witches, vampires, or werewolves! Because these beliefs have also had a profound influence on Western culture from art to literature, we hope to better understand these beliefs and their influence on Western Civilization.
Source: History and Headlines
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