TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Brian A. Pavlac: Ugly History: Witch Hunts
In the German town of Nördlingen in 1593, innkeeper Maria Höll found herself accused of witchcraft. She was arrested for questioning, and denied the charges. She insisted she wasn't a witch through 62 rounds of torture before her...
Crash Course
Witchcraft: Crash Course European History
During our last several episodes, Europe and the European-controlled world have been in crisis. Wars, disease, climate changes, and shifts in religious and political power threw the European world into turmoil. People were looking for a...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The murder of ancient Alexandria's greatest scholar - Soraya Field Fiorio
Dive into the life of one of Ancient Rome’s most powerful figures, Hypatia of Alexandria, a renowned scholar and political advisor to the city's leaders. -- In the city of Alexandria in 415 CE, the bishop and the governor were in a...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials
You’ve been accused of a crime you did not commit. It’s impossible to prove your innocence. If you insist that you’re innocent anyway, you’ll likely be found guilty and executed. But if you confess, apologize, and implicate others,...
Wonderscape
The Theories Behind the Salem Witch Trials
This video explores possible explanations for the Salem Witch Trials, including ergot poisoning, family feuds, and social tensions. It examines how jealousy, spite, and the strict Puritan lifestyle might have fueled the accusations and...
Wonderscape
Salem Witch Trials: Unjust Accusations and Executions
This video details the tragic events of the Salem Witch Trials, focusing on key figures like Rebecca Nurse, George Burroughs, and even a child, Dorothy Good. Learn about the controversial accusations, the executions by hanging, and the...
Wonderscape
Tituba’s Confession: The Turning Point in the Salem Witch Trials
This video explores the pivotal role of Tituba's confession in the Salem Witch Trials. Learn how pressure from Reverend Samuel Parris and fear of punishment led to Tituba's detailed accounts of witchcraft, which fueled the hysteria in...
Wonderscape
Tituba: The Enigmatic Figure Behind the Salem Witch Trials
This video explores the mysterious background of Tituba, the first woman accused in the Salem Witch Trials. Learn about her origins, her life as an enslaved woman, her connection to Reverend Samuel Parris’s family, and the events that...
Wonderscape
The Salem Witch Trials: A Dark Chapter in American History
This video delves into the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, where more than 150 people in Salem, Massachusetts, were accused of witchcraft, leading to the execution of 19 individuals. Learn about the Puritan beliefs, the events that triggered...
Curated Video
Macbeth Context: Witchcraft in Shakespeare's Time
This video examines the significance of witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth, highlighting how King James I's fascination with witchcraft influenced the inclusion of witches in the play. It explores the historical context of witch hunts in...
Curated Video
Macbeth 3.5 Performance: Hecate, Lines 2-35
In this performance from "Macbeth", Hecate delivers a commanding performance, expressing her frustration with the witches' actions and asserting her authority over them. With a mix of indignation and power, Hecate confronts the witches...
Curated Video
Macbeth 1.5 Dig Deeper: Is Lady Macbeth a Witch?
This video explores the complex themes of witchcraft and destiny in Act 1 of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," particularly through the character of Lady Macbeth. The analysis focuses on Shakespeare's use of language to present Lady Macbeth...
Curated Video
Macbeth 1.1 What the Critics Say
This video explores the varying interpretations of the supernatural elements in Shakespeare's "Macbeth" among different literary critics across centuries. It highlights the debates between critics like Samuel Johnson, who criticized the...
Curated Video
Macbeth 1.1 Historical Reference: Witches' Servants
This video examines the introduction of witchcraft and supernatural elements in Act 1 of Shakespeare's "Macbeth." It explains the significance of these motifs and how they influence the themes of power and fate in the play. The content...
Curated Video
Tituba: The First Accused Witch
The Salem Witch Trials are one of the most infamous tragedies in American history, yet most people do not know the story of the enslaved woman at the heart of the hysteria, the first accused witch, Tituba.
Jack Rackam
The Man Behind China's Golden Age | The Life & Times of Emperor Wu
I thought it’s time I really take the plunge into ancient China, by which of course I mean I did a bunch of research for Matt over at Useful Charts about the country’s past and had to desperately restrain myself from making a 52-part...
Weird History
Medieval Laws We Break Every Day
The Middle Ages spanned from roughly 500 to 1500 CE. For much of that time, the people of England lived under a feudal system in which both the laws, and the penalties for breaking them, were significantly more bizarre than the ones we...
Schooling Online
Destroying Drama: Arthur Miller, The Crucible - Theme of Individual and Collective Power
Is it better to stand as an individual or join forces with the majority? This lesson explores the theme of individuality and collective power in Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’. Explore what happened in Salem when the community’s rules...
Step Back History
What is the Wiccan Religion?
The Wiccan religion is the perfect discussion for Halloween. An open lover of witchcraft, but not in the expected ways. Let's talk about Wicca.
Curated Video
The Salem Witch Trials: What Really Happened?
The Salem Witch trials are one of the most infamous episodes in US history, but what really happened in Salem?
Religion for Breakfast
What is Wicca?
References: Ethan Doyle White, Wicca: History, Belief, and Community in Modern Pagan Witchcraft, (Sussex Academic Press, 2016) Sabina Magliocco, Witching Culture: Folkore and Neopaganism in America, (University of Pennsylvania Press,...
Weird History
What Childbirth Was Like For Royal Mothers
For as long as it's been in existence, the royal world has been special, elevated above the mediocrity of regular life and filled with the pleasures and privileges of divine power and influence. And even though the practical function of...
Curated Video
Martha Moore Ballard: Diary of a Midwife
Written over 25 years, Martha Moore Ballard’s diary gives us a unique perspective into the midwifery profession and the lives of women in 19th century America.
Schooling Online
Destroying Drama: Arthur Miller, The Crucible - Act 1 Summary
Welcome to Salem, an American town ruled by religion. Reverend Parris’ daughter, Betty, has fallen ill. What could it be? Reverend Parris suspects witchcraft after finding out that Betty and Abigail, his niece, were dancing in the forest...