The Cambridge History of Magic and Witchcraft in the West
From Antiquity to the Present

This book analyzes the history of magic's changing role in the West from antiquity to the present day.

David J. Collins, S. J. (Edited by)

9780521194181, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 March 2015

712 pages, 66 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.9 x 4.1 cm, 1.2 kg

'There can be no doubt that it is a welcome addition to magic and witchcraft studies since it offers a refreshing number of departures from tired clichés, and invites the reader to think about magic beyond the boundaries of western Europe. … Both Collins and his contributors are to be congratulated on their ambition for this volume, and its individual accomplishments.' Peter Maxwell-Stuart, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History

This book presents twenty chapters by experts in their fields, providing a thorough and interdisciplinary overview of the theory and practice of magic in the West. Its chronological scope extends from the Ancient Near East to twenty-first-century North America; its objects of analysis range from Persian curse tablets to US neo-paganism. For comparative purposes, the volume includes chapters on developments in the Jewish and Muslim worlds, evaluated not simply for what they contributed at various points to European notions of magic, but also as models of alternative development in ancient Mediterranean legacy. Similarly, the volume highlights the transformative and challenging encounters of Europeans with non-Europeans, regarding the practice of magic in both early modern colonization and more recent decolonization.

1. Ancient Near East Daniel Schwemer
2. Ancient Egypt Friedhelm Hoffmann
3. Early Greco-Roman antiquity Kimberly B. Stratton
4. Imperial Rome Kyle A. Fraser
5. The early church Maijastina Kahlos
6. The early medieval West Yitzhak Hen
7. Magic in medieval Byzantium Alicia Walker
8. Magic, marvel, and miracle in early Islamic thought Travis Zadeh
9. Jewish magic in the Middle Ages Gideon Bohak
10. Common magic Catherine Rider
11. Learned magic David J. Collins, S.J.
12. Diabolic magic Michael D. Bailey
13. Magic and priestcraft: reformers and reformation Helen L. Parish
14. Spain and Mexico Louise Burkhart
15. Folk magic in North America Richard Godbeer
16. Colonial magic: the Dutch East Indies Margaret Wiener
17. Magic in common and legal perspectives Owen Davies
18. Elite magic in the nineteenth century David Allen Harvey
19. Magic in the postcolonial Americas Raquel Romberg
20. New-age and neo-pagan magic Sabina Magliocco.

Subject Areas: Religion: general [HRA], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], Medieval history [HBLC1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]