ABSTRACT
Italy bas 42 trials in the data set. When standardized to the population of Germany (1340) this figure rises to only 48.63. There is little reason to doubt the fact that Italian witch persecution rates were indeed very low. As the most highly urbanized and literate region of Europe, one would expect better record keeping than in the other areas of Europe where an under-count may well be more severe. However, the take-off after 1420 was comparatively as severe as in the rest of Europe, with a 200% increase from the mean number of trials per decade before 1420 to the mean for 1420-1500. Italian trials correspond to the »medieval« model in that they have only moderate kill rates, and around 50% ecclesiastical trials. However, Italy is second only to Germany in the gendered nature of its witch persecutions, with an average of .70 probability of a woman being in a given trial. This may well be related to the fact that »repr'oduction magic« was of far greater importance in Italy Ulan in the other countries, making up some 30% of all Italian trials. On the indices of »modernity« Italy scores more highly than the rest of Europe, and was without doubt highly urbanized and cosmopolitan. Yet in terms of social transformation, it did not change as rapidly as Germany. The urban density rose from around 8% to around 18% (a 144% increase), whilst the university density rose from 1.2 per million to 3.4 per million. Whilst these are significant changes they are overshadowed by Germany's rapid rationalization and urbanization described above. In sum the case of Italy seems to confirm then argument that was made with regard to France that moderate social change led to a hybrid witchcraft form. It also seems to suggest that it is not the amount of »development« that was crucial but rather Ule pace of development. This observation seems to confmn the boundary maintenance type of explanation of witchcraft.
