Witchcraft, Werewolves and Magic

University experts from across Wales lead new Historical Association short course

Historians from the humanities, specialising in our historical understanding of magic, folklore, witchcraft and werewolves in the medieval and early modern periods are leading a new course open to anyone online.

Using a range of primary sources including from the University’s own Special Collections and Archives, the brand new Historical Association course examines how witchcraft has been imagined and understood at different times and in different places, and why alleged witches were prosecuted.

Leading experts from the School of History, Archaeology and Religion and the School of Welsh and Lifelong Learning at the University, are among the line-up.

Leading the introduction to the study of European witchcraft history from the 15th century to the present are Dr Jan Machielsen, Dr Lisa Tallis, Dr Juliette Wood from Cardiff University alongside Dr Jonathan Durrant (University of South Wales) and Dr Laura Kounine (University of Sussex).

Reader in Early Modern History Dr Jan Machielsen teaches modules on the history of the supernatural as well as witchcraft and witch-hunting in early modern Europe. A guest on many podcasts, including History Hit’s Not Just the Tudors, Dr Machielsen’s latest book The Basque Witch-Hunt: A Secret History comes out in October.

Celtic folklorist and medieval specialist Dr Juliette Wood dips into her undergraduate teaching on Morgan and Merlin as well as modern paganism in her sessions. She also shares insight into how the Welsh figuresMorgan le Fay and Ceridwen have developed, acquiring characteristics of enchantress and witch through history.

Precious original materials held in the University’s Special Collections and Archives will add a unique insight, alongside the expertise of Assistant Librarian and Subject Librarian (Welsh) Dr Lisa Tallis.

Actively used in a variety of ways for teaching and research, the world-class collections are accessible to all via appointment with specialist staff.

Marking the start of The Welsh Merlin Project, the two-day Welsh Merlin Conference takes place at Cardiff University in January 2025.

For more insight into Merlin, catch keynote speaker Dr Wood on In Our Time.

The seven-week online course Witchcraft, Werewolves and Magic in European History costs £37 (free for Historical Association members).