# The Impact of the Printing Press and Social Networks on the Proliferation of Witch Hunts in Early Modern Europe
From 1400 to 1775, Europe experienced a spike in witch trials, resulting in the execution of an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 people accused of witchcraft. This tragic era in history has captivated historians and social scientists alike, who have aimed to unravel the factors that led to such extensive panic. One of the most crucial components identified is the advent of the printing press, which significantly aided in the spread of ideas, especially through the release of witch-hunting manuals like the notorious *Malleus Maleficarum*.
The swift proliferation of witch trials throughout Europe, along with the harsh persecution of alleged witches, corresponds with a concept of social change referred to as “ideational diffusion.” This concept posits that new ideas, when bolstered by social networks, can become entrenched and provoke widespread behavioral shifts within society. A recent article published in *Theory and Society* examines how the emergence of the printing press and the impact of adjacent cities established ideal circumstances for the outbreak of witch-hunting fervor.
## The Impact of the *Malleus Maleficarum* and the Printing Press
The *Malleus Maleficarum*, initially published in 1487, emerged as one of the most impactful witch-hunting manuals during its era. Authored by Heinrich Kramer, a German cleric, the book outlined comprehensive guidelines on how to identify, prosecute, and execute witches. Its publication coincided with the burgeoning of the printing press, which enabled the mass creation and distribution of texts across Europe. This technological innovation meant that ideas could be disseminated more swiftly and broadly than ever before.
Historians have long pondered the influence of the *Malleus Maleficarum* in driving witch trials, but recent studies have yielded empirical evidence to corroborate this notion. Sociologist Steve Pfaff and his colleagues, including Kerice Doten-Snitker from the Santa Fe Institute, contend that the release of the *Malleus Maleficarum* and other similar texts directly impacted the surge in witch trials. Each new edition of the *Malleus Maleficarum* was succeeded by a rise in witch trials, indicating a distinct connection between the spread of these concepts and the actions of local populations.
## Ideational Diffusion and Social Contagion
The ideational diffusion theory asserts that cultural transformations occur when new concepts infiltrate a society and are reinforced by social networks. In the context of witch trials, the emergence of the *Malleus Maleficarum* offered a fresh lens through which to perceive witchcraft, reframing it from a relatively innocuous belief into a dire menace to society. This alteration in perception was further bolstered by the social networks of the period, especially the trade routes linking cities across Europe.
Doten-Snitker and her research team concentrated on the significance of these trade routes in propagating ideas surrounding witchcraft. They discovered that cities more closely tied to trade networks were likelier to witness witch trials, having been exposed to novel ideas from various sources. The dissemination of witch trials followed a pattern akin to social contagion, where the actions of neighboring cities impacted the probability of a city holding its own trials. This cascading effect generated a gradual wave of witch-hunting hysteria that spread across the continent.
## Modeling Cultural Change
Investigating how extensive cultural shifts occur has been a pivotal area of study for many years, with researchers like Damon Centola employing insights from epidemiology to comprehend how social networks can modify human conduct. Nonetheless, Doten-Snitker’s ideational diffusion model diverges from Centola’s in fundamental ways. While straightforward instances of social contagion, such as viral memes or chart-topping songs, can propagate quickly, more sophisticated expressions—like the escalation of witch trials—demand a more profound cognitive transformation.
According to Doten-Snitker, individuals must not only encounter a new idea but also engage with it and reinterpret their social environment in ways that render the idea persuasive. In the case of witchcraft, people had to come to believe that witchcraft was both real and a genuine threat to their communities. This cognitive transformation subsequently spurred changes in behavior, such as the persecution of those suspected of witchcraft.
## The Reduction of Witch Trials
While the ideational diffusion model elucidates how witch trials spread, it also prompts inquiries into why the frenzy eventually waned. By the late 17th century, the prevalence and severity of witch trials had significantly decreased. This transition can be traced to various factors, including growing pressures to focus on clear and consistent judicial practices. For instance, the use of torture to elicit confessions and the acceptance of dreams as evidence of witchcraft were increasingly dismissed.
Doten-Snitker posits that cultural transformations like the reduction of witch trials arise when new ideas overtake older ones. In
