Ergot

suggests that the bread the people of Salem ate contained Ergot Fungus that resulted in the rhythmic spasms of muscles. The Ergot Fungus derives from Claviceps purpurea, which affects “cereal grasses”

girls. While Arthur Miller explains that the accusations could have been made over the lust for land, there are also reasons not explained: how the role of women and children during the 17th century may have affected their behavior and the theory of Ergot fungus poisoning the girls’ minds. While Daemonologie did solely focus on the existence of witches among people, it also had major

Beginning in 1692 in the small farming community of Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony, young girls fell ill and initiated odd behavior. Physicians determining the cause of the outbursts deemed impossible, leaving one option remaining: witchcraft. Now, with the supernatural rumors spreading throughout the minuscule Puritan community, commenced a mass hysteria. Neighbors accused neighbors, daughters accused mothers, even a dog was tried and killed. A year later, the paranoia and fear settled

The infamous Salem witch trials of colonial Massachusetts took place between 1692 and 1693. They involved the execution of fourteen women and five men within the brief time period. What is now the New England region had been established by a homogenous Puritan population, which emigrated from England. Abiding by a strict set of beliefs, the Puritans did not accept people of other backgrounds,therefore it might follow that the Salem Witch Trials of New England were a result of the strict Puritan society

were agressively dancing unwillingly for days on end until they died of exhaustion, dehydration, or strokes. Some theories were suggested to diagnos the reason for how the dancing plague occured. The theories proposed were mass panic and hysteria, ergot fungus injestion, the victims were in a trance, or that their religion and beliefs, in some way, generated the dancing plague. It's difficult to imagine that people were able to dance for several days with bruised and bloody feet. However

Human beings always have been curious creatures. We are a species that is always searching for answers to unexplainable events. Take aliens for example. To us, aliens may or may not exist (depending on your individual belief of course). Yet we still take such an interest in them that we continuously search for answers and proof of alien. Now that we have modern day technology, we can attain “proof” of alien life-form somewhere deep in outer space. But given the date 1692 in New England, if we were

In Salem Village, Massachusetts, 1662, two-hundred people became inaccurately accused, hundreds imprisoned, and twenty-four executed. What historical event caused this? In the fall of 1661, nine girls began exhibiting possession like symptoms and they seemed to have only one explanation, witchcraft; however, the symptoms they experienced have caught the eyes of historians and resembles a disease we now know today as Ergotism. The start of the accusations began in Autumn of 1661, nearly one year

For decades, opposing perspectives of different people and groups has led to contention in society. In communities around the world, this contention has built up fear and prejudice. However, as conflict is an inevitable part of any society, it can be expected to develop the greatest consequence possible. The Salem Witch Trials are an example of such conflict, as they resulted in many people being falsely accused for crimes, arrested, and killed. But what provoked this mass hysteria? Scholars have

these theories are that the rye crop was infected with ergot, that an oppressive

From the beginning of time there has been conflict between the views of different people and their different groups. Conflict has brought prejudice and fear into communities around the world. As conflict is an inescapable part of any society, it can be expected to extend to the greatest impact possible. The Salem Witch Trials are one such conflict. This conflict caused many to be accused, arrested, and killed. Because of social, economic, religious, and physical problems within the community, Salem