BBC History Revealed Magazine - April 2022

In this issue

Scotland’s witch hunts
A look at some of the facts and statistics associated with the persecution of witches north of the border.

The Salem witch trials
How did a vulnerable New England settlement end up playing host to the most notorious witch trials in history?

A CAULDRON OF CULTURES

Professor Ronald Hutton reveals how ancient civilisations helped shape early modern beliefs about witches and witchcraft

5 mins

ROUGH INJUSTICE

Professor Marion Gibson reveals how England's early modern legal system dealt with suspected 'witches'

6 mins

ON THE PROWL

Hunting witches was a lucrative profession, giving plucky vigilantes the opportunity to earn high wages and gain social standing within communities gripped by fear and worry

4 mins

FACT OR FICTION?

Most people's knowledge of 'witches' stems from popular horror tropes involving warty-faced women stirring cauldrons, or innocent young girls being drowned in ponds. But how much of this is based on pure mythology? Professor Owen Davies addresses eight popular misconceptions about the history of witchcraft in Europe

5 mins

ISLAND OF THE DEAD

In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, some people still claim they have the ability to practise magic and command zonbi spirits. Professor Lauren Derby explores the history behind this unique form of Caribbean sorcery

5 mins

WICCA'S WORLD

Claire Slack reveals how a new magical movement flourished in the 20th century

3 mins

WHAT GREAT PAINTINGS SAY

Vincent van Gogh's stark portrayal of physical and mental ill-health carries an important message of hope and determination

3 mins

SARAH BIFFIN Artist, writer, trailblazer

Nige Tassell explores the life and career of the disabled English painter whose work is set to be the focus of a major new exhibition later this vear

8 mins

WHAT IF...THE OTTOMANS HAD WON AT LEPANTO?

Professor Marc David Baer talks to Jonny Wilkes about the infamous 1571 naval battle, and whether or not an Ottoman victory against the Catholic Holy League would have made a substantial a difference to the empire's ambitions anyway

4 mins

SEEING DOUBLE

As German aircraft attacked Paris during WWI, one man had an idea: what if you could fool the enemy into dropping their bombs elsewhere? Gavin Mortimer tells the story behind an audacious wartime ruse...

6 mins

Read all stories from BBC History Revealed

BBC History Revealed Magazine Description:

History Revealed brings the past to life for everyone. It’s an action-packed, image-rich magazine with zero stuffiness, jam-packed with facts, features and historical fun. If you enjoy finding out how things happened, love a good story, want to revel in stunning images from the past, or lap up trivia and facts, then History Revealed is the magazine for you.