User:Skyerise/sandbox/History of witchcraft

While the European witch trials in the early modern period are the most widely known, the history of witchcraft spans centuries and continents. Witchcraft, as a concept, has been primarily defined by societies and cultures through persecution rather than by its inherent qualities. Since ancient Mesopotamia, diverse cultures have identified certain practices as witchcraft and subjected practitioners to severe consequences. In ancient Greece and Egypt, accusations of malevolent sorcery could lead to social ostracism or legal action. During the Western Han Dynasty in ancient China, foreign shamans were persecuted.

What makes the history of witchcraft particularly intriguing is the stark contrast between the persecuted traditions and the persecuting ones. Accused traditions often encompassed practices related to traditional healing, divination, and a deep reverence for nature. In contrast, the persecuting traditions, often representing dominant religious or political authorities, saw these practices as a challenge to established norms and authority. Accused individuals, frequently marginalized or vulnerable members of society, were accused of wielding supernatural powers, while the persecuting institutions sought to maintain their influence and control.

Mesopotamia
The early stages of the development of witchcraft in Mesopotamia were "comparable to the archaic shamanistic stage of European witchcraft". Witches were not considered evil, but rather helped others using a combination of magical and medical knowledge. They generally lived in rural areas and sometimes exhibited ecstatic behavior, which was more usually associated with the asipu (exorcist), whose main function at this stage of development was to battle non-human supernatural forces.

"Our Mesopotamian speaker imagines himself able to journey shaman-like to both the heavens and the netherworld in the guise of a star."