History with Witches. Witchcraft Trials in the Ukrainian Voivodeships of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 17th–18th Centuries. Kateryna Dysa

Accusations of witchcraft were a part of everyday life in Ukrainian lands in the 17th and 18th centuries. People of that time sorted out relationships because of crop failures, enchanted livestock, sudden illnesses, defamation, or conflicts between neighbors. We know this from court documents that have survived to our time. However, what was really hidden behind these cases?

In Kateryna Dysa’s book, witchcraft trials are presented not only as a manifestation of superstition, but also as a reflection of deeper social tensions, fears, and ideas about justice. The author recreates the proceedings, talks about the role of torture, rumors, and reputations in passing sentences. Based on almost 200 cases, she shows how legal mechanisms worked, how church and folk ideas about the demonic influenced judicial practice, and who the people suspected of witchcraft were.

This study provides a glimpse into the everyday life of early modern society—its fears, conflicts, and ways to resolve them. The Ukrainian material is presented in a broader European context, which allows us to see the similarities and differences between local trials and the “witch hunts” known from historiography.