The "witch craze" wasn't random hysteria — trial records show accusers often targeted neighbors in land disputes, debt conflicts, or social rivalries. Margaret Alice Murray's "witch cult" theory got discredited decades ago, yet it still shapes how pop-occultism tells the story.
The actual history is messier, more political, and honestly more interesting.
Éva Pócs and Robin Briggs have done solid work here if you want the sourced deep-dives.








