Cambridge University Press eBooks· 2014· Book chapter
Magic in the Middle Ages
- 185citations
- 2014year
Short summary
Magic in the Middle Ages explores how magical practices intersected with religion, science, philosophy, art, literature, and politics, serving as a cultural crossroads.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Magic served as a point of contact between popular and elite classes in medieval society.
- The reality of magical beliefs is mirrored in medieval literature.
- The persecution of magic and witchcraft influenced the development of medieval law.
- Magic is presented as a central element connecting diverse aspects of medieval culture.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
How was magic practised in medieval times? How did it relate to the diverse beliefs and practices that characterised this fascinating period? In Magic in the Middle Ages Richard Kieckhefer surveys the growth and development of magic in medieval times. He examines its relation to religion, science, philosophy, art, literature and politics before introducing us to the different types of magic that were used, the kinds of people who practised magic and the reasoning behind their beliefs. In addition, he shows how magic served as a point of contact between the popular and elite classes, how the reality of magical beliefs is reflected in the fiction of medieval literature and how the persecution of magic and witchcraft led to changes in the law. This book places magic at the crossroads of medieval culture, shedding light on many other aspects of life in the Middle Ages.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Cambridge University Press eBooks, 2014 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Classics
ClassicsArts and Humanities