The Role of Magic in the Past. Learned and Popular Magic, Popular Beliefs and Diversity of Attitudes Cover Image

The Role of Magic in the Past. Learned and Popular Magic, Popular Beliefs and Diversity of Attitudes
The Role of Magic in the Past. Learned and Popular Magic, Popular Beliefs and Diversity of Attitudes

Contributor(s): Blanka Szeghyová (Editor), Martin C. Styan (Translator), Blanka Szeghyová (Translator), Lajos Szikhart (Translator)
Subject(s): History, Anthropology, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Cultural history, Customs / Folklore, Geography, Regional studies, Sociology, Middle Ages, Modern Age, Theology and Religion, Culture and social structure , Health and medicine and law, History of Religion
Published by: Historický ústav SAV
Keywords: magic; black magic; love magic; demonology; vampirism; supernatural; occult; belief system; rituals; culture; middle ages; modern age; witchcraft; medicinal practice; Slovakia; Hungary; Serbia; Europe;
Summary/Abstract: Magic in the past in its various forms, perceptions and definitions has been a popular subject of modern Western scholarship for a long time. In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in contrast, the issue of magic is still a rather neglected area of study. Apart from the study of witchcraft and apart from ethnologists or anthropologists, whose research interests usually include present or recent case studies and phenomena, the subject of magic has not yet received due attention from historians and other scholars of the humanities of the region. This can be partly explained by the fact that while communist policy with its stress on the class struggle preferred certain topics, mainly political, economic and social history, it practically brought other fields and research interests to a standstill.

  • Print-ISBN-10: 80-969366-3-8
  • Page Count: 255
  • Publication Year: 2005
  • Language: English
Introduction

Introduction
(Introduction)

Research Problems of Magical Texts in Central Europe

Research Problems of Magical Texts in Central Europe
(Research Problems of Magical Texts in Central Europe)

The Magic of Image: Astrological, Alchemical and Magical Symbolism at the Court of Wenceslas IV

The Magic of Image: Astrological, Alchemical and Magical Symbolism at the Court of Wenceslas IV
(The Magic of Image: Astrological, Alchemical and Magical Symbolism at the Court of Wenceslas IV)

The Occult Sciences in Early Modern Hungary in a Central European Context

The Occult Sciences in Early Modern Hungary in a Central European Context
(The Occult Sciences in Early Modern Hungary in a Central European Context)

An Outline History of Alchemy in Slovakia.

An Outline History of Alchemy in Slovakia.
(An Outline History of Alchemy in Slovakia.)

The Mystery of the Transmutation of Iron into Copper in the 16th - 18th Centuries

The Mystery of the Transmutation of Iron into Copper in the 16th - 18th Centuries
(The Mystery of the Transmutation of Iron into Copper in the 16th - 18th Centuries)

Magic and Demonology in Albert Szenci Molnár’s Personal Commonplace Book

Magic and Demonology in Albert Szenci Molnár’s Personal Commonplace Book
(Magic and Demonology in Albert Szenci Molnár’s Personal Commonplace Book)

Magic Features in Johann Heinrich Alsted´s Apocalyptics

Magic Features in Johann Heinrich Alsted´s Apocalyptics
(Magic Features in Johann Heinrich Alsted´s Apocalyptics)

Weather Magic in the Early Modern Period as Reflected in the Minutes of Witchcraft Trials

Weather Magic in the Early Modern Period as Reflected in the Minutes of Witchcraft Trials
(Weather Magic in the Early Modern Period as Reflected in the Minutes of Witchcraft Trials)

Servants of the Devil in Krupina

Servants of the Devil in Krupina
(Servants of the Devil in Krupina)

Witch-Hunt in Szeged in the Early Eighteenth Century

Witch-Hunt in Szeged in the Early Eighteenth Century
(Witch-Hunt in Szeged in the Early Eighteenth Century)

The Mystery of Birth: Magic, Empirical and Rational Approaches to Women’s Medicine In the Medieval and Early Modern Periods

The Mystery of Birth: Magic, Empirical and Rational Approaches to Women’s Medicine In the Medieval and Early Modern Periods
(The Mystery of Birth: Magic, Empirical and Rational Approaches to Women’s Medicine In the Medieval and Early Modern Periods)

Elements of Magical – Medicinal Practice. The Position of the Witch and Wizard in Slovakia

Elements of Magical – Medicinal Practice. The Position of the Witch and Wizard in Slovakia
(Elements of Magical – Medicinal Practice. The Position of the Witch and Wizard in Slovakia)

The Mediation of Poisoning. Magic Embedded in Everyday Medical Knowledge

The Mediation of Poisoning. Magic Embedded in Everyday Medical Knowledge
(The Mediation of Poisoning. Magic Embedded in Everyday Medical Knowledge)

Incantations in Medical Advice and Recipes from 16th to 18th Centuries

Incantations in Medical Advice and Recipes from 16th to 18th Centuries
(Incantations in Medical Advice and Recipes from 16th to 18th Centuries)

Some Aspects of the Love Magic Beliefs in Eastern Serbia

Some Aspects of the Love Magic Beliefs in Eastern Serbia
(Some Aspects of the Love Magic Beliefs in Eastern Serbia)

The Role of Black Magic in Controlling Social Balance in Moldavian Chango Villages

The Role of Black Magic in Controlling Social Balance in Moldavian Chango Villages
(The Role of Black Magic in Controlling Social Balance in Moldavian Chango Villages)

Bells and Magic

Bells and Magic
(Bells and Magic)

Turkish Magic and Habsburg Propaganda

Turkish Magic and Habsburg Propaganda
(Turkish Magic and Habsburg Propaganda)

Popular Piety and Magic in Hungary in the 17th Century

Popular Piety and Magic in Hungary in the 17th Century
(Popular Piety and Magic in Hungary in the 17th Century)

Magical Practices in the Books of Miracles

Magical Practices in the Books of Miracles
(Magical Practices in the Books of Miracles)

The Supernatural and Claims of Scientificity in Russian Popular Culture, 1875-1914

The Supernatural and Claims of Scientificity in Russian Popular Culture, 1875-1914
(The Supernatural and Claims of Scientificity in Russian Popular Culture, 1875-1914)

Magic Elements in Slovak Romantic Ballads

Magic Elements in Slovak Romantic Ballads
(Magic Elements in Slovak Romantic Ballads)

Contributors

Contributors
(Contributors)

Gazetteer of Historical Place Names

Gazetteer of Historical Place Names
(Gazetteer of Historical Place Names)