What is Witch?
[[File:Devil hugging a witch.jpg|thumb|An illustration of a witch greeting [[The Devil]]]]A '''witch''' is a person (often [[female]]) who practices [[witchcraft]], magic or potions. In modern times, they have become characterised with pointed hats, black cloaks and [[Broom|broomsticks]]. Traditionally, the word “witch” was used as an accusation. Witches were accused of bewitching people, or casting spells to control them. In some societies, they were seen as evil, but in others, witches were viewed positively. [[File:The Wizard of Oz Margaret Hamilton 1939 No 1.jpg|thumb|The [[Wicked Witch of the West]] is a famous fictional witch]] Today, followers of [[Wicca]] practice witchcraft and [[Nature worship|worship nature]]. Some call themselves ''witches''. Note that the practitioners of Wicca are completely unrelated to the historical witches, this article is about. == History == Most [[indigenous peoples]] throughout [[History of the world|history]] have had some beliefs about [[spirit]]s and believed that certain individuals could gain magical powers through [[herb]]s or spirits. However, these individuals were not called 'witches' until indigenous people had contact with western ideas. Spirits and people who interacted with them were not always viewed negatively in indigenous societies. === ''The Malleus Maleficarum'' === The ''[[Malleus Maleficarum]]'', a book published in 1487, fueled [https://simple.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/panic panic] over witchcraft''.'' It was written by a [[German people|German]] [[Catholicism|Catholic]] [[clergyman]] named Heinrich Kramer. The book was a witch-hunting manual that explained how to [[Persecution|persecute]] witches. It suggested using [[torture]] to get accused witches to [https://simple.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/confess confess] to witchcraft. It also encouraged [[Death by burning|burning “witches” at the stake]]. The new [[technology]] of the [[printing press]] made it possible for ''Malleus Maleficarum'' to be [[Mass production|mass-produced]]. The book was printed 29 tim