The author of a text central to these events was deemed “senile and crazy” by a bishop after Helena Scheuberin (“SHOY-burr-in”) spat on him in Innsbruck. These events’ connection to growing class divides is used to dispute Marxist accounts of primitive accumulation in a book titled for “Caliban” by Silvia Federici. A papal bull titled for “desiring with supreme ardor” encouraging these events was issued by (*) Innocent VIII and included in the preface of a book titled as a “hammer” by the Inquisitor Heinrich Kramer. The printing press exacerbated the frequency of these events after the publication of Malleus Maleficarum, accusations of heresy in which led to these events including burnings at the stake. For 10 points, name these events which prosecuted women who supposedly possessed magical powers and communed with the devil. ■END■
ANSWER: witch trials [or witch hunts; or witch craze; accept descriptions like witches being prosecuted or executed; prompt on trials or ordeals]
<Megan Wang, European History>
= Average correct buzz position