Nada Alamro

Hysteria over witchcraft in the 16th and 17th century affected the many lives of Europeans. Witchcraft trials existed in European countries such as in England, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland, and France; it was also held in America. The church has condemned witchcraft since they considered the practice was associated with the devil. This condemnation is also seen in the Islamic law since it also links the activity as being associated with the devil.

However, in the 16th and 17th century, witchcraft trails and executions of presumed witches increased in number. As this number increased, peoples’ fears of witchcraft increased. It is assumed that around more than one hundred thousand people at the time were prosecuted on charges of witchcraft.

The widespread of the witchcraft craze during this period had to do a lot with religious uncertainty. Many of the witchcraft trails have been held in places where Protestantism was victorious or in places where Catholic Protestant controversies still raged. The rich also contributed to the increase of these prosecutions. Rich people often feared from the poor that were around them and transformed them psychologically into agents of the devil. Old women were also easy scapegoats as problems arose. Many of them sold herbs, remedies, and potions for healing since they no longer were the recipients of the local charity. Women being the chief victims of witchcraft was not accidental. It was believed by the judges then that the devil chose to use women because he knew that women were inferior and that women love their sexual experiences with the devil.

Reference:
Spielvogel J. J. (2002). Western civilization: A brief history comprehensive volume
(2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Thomson Learning Inc.

Posted by Nada Alamro at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Family ties in the urban world of Renaissance Italy was a source of security. Parents made careful marriage arrangements for their children as these often meant strengthening business or family ties. Parents took little or no notion to the modern concept of love; some would even make such arrangements by reinforcing a legally binding marriage contract for their children when they are only two or three years of age. The most important aspect of the marriage contract was the size of the dowry. This sum of money was given to the husband by the wife’s family upon marriage.
The wedding feast was also considered a necessary part of the wedding. This painting by Botticelli shows the wedding banquet in Florence that celebrated the marriage of Nastagio degli Onesti and the daughter of Paulo Traversaro.

Posted by Nada Alamro at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who would have known the world could go wireless back in the days?

Well, Guglielmo Marconi in the late1800’s was eager to go wireless. During his time, the telegraph was in use but the technology then needed electrical wires to send messages over a distance. Marconi had the idea of radio telegraphy and it was in 1895 when Marconi was conducting several laboratory experiments at his father’s country estate in Italy that he succeeded in sending the first wireless signal. In 1896 Marconi manages to travel to England and it was there that he was granted the world’s first patent for a wireless telegraphy system.

One catastrophic event in history used radio telegraphy to transmit news of an event from a distance. The news of the sinking of the Titanic was transmitted by radio telegraphy. At first, there were confusing messages about the news since anyone at that time was able to set up a radio, which resulted in some of the people not being able to interpret the message properly.

Today, we love the fact that we can be mobile. The convenience of using a wireless internet, cell phones, and even Bluetooth technology makes us dread the idea of not having such services available. Thank you Marconi, you sure made communication and information sharing wirelessly possible today. No wonder we see a picture of “The Marconi” on an Italian 2000 Lire note.

Posted by Nada Alamro at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)