4 Main Myths About Witches in the Middle Ages - http://clapway.com/2015/07/16/4-main-myths-about-witches-in-the-middle-ages325/

Witches Were Pagan

This is the biggest misunderstanding about witchcraft in the Middle Ages. A lot of people who were persecuted as witches were devout Christians, but superstitions against their professions were what got them in trouble. Most often among these professions, midwives got into a lot of trouble. Before people gave birth at hospitals, you went to a midwife when you were pregnant. You can still visit midwives, but for women in the profession during the Middle Ages, a stillbirth could mean downfall. The myth that witches were pagan women who lived in the woods is a gross exaggeration. After all, Christian views and pagan views were very linked in faith until about the late Middle Ages when people were scared of being—well—burned as a witch. Which brings me to the next myth…

Witches Were always Burned at the stake

Yes, burning at the stake did happen. But witchcraft in the Middle Ages was punished by many different ways, and burning was not the most popular method. In fact, burning was reserved for other crimes… like being a Protestant. Witchcraft in the Middle Ages was more commonly punished by torture, beheading, and hanging.

Witches Were Women

Yes, as time went on, the majority of accused witches were women. But during the Middle Ages, many high ranking men were persecuted for witchcraft. In fact, a lot of Templar Knights, famous for the later Crusades, were found guilty for witchcraft. This is because the knights were accused of committing sinful crimes, including sodomy and sorcery. It has been confirmed that the Knights Templar had a secret society during and after the Crusades, but the dealings of the society have been hard to decipher.

Witchcraft Was Illegal

Witchcraft in the Middle Ages only became an illicit practice until about 1400. Before then, practicing was just a part of life for many people. Like the myth that witches were pagan, the spells and enchantments that we associate with witchcraft were normal. It was only when the printing press made spreading information cheap and fast that witch hunts really took off. The Valais Witch Trails are considered the first wave of European Witch Hunts. Now, of course, witches have always been persecuted, but this large-scale hunt began in 1428!

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4 Main Myths About Witches in the Middle Ages

5 Ancient Contraceptive Methods That Will Make You Cringe - http://clapway.com/2015/07/15/5-ancient-contraceptive-methods-that-will-make-you-cringe456/

Weasel Balls

Balls would seem like the last thing to help keep pregnancy away. But this ancient birth control method from the Dark Ages was commonly used for those hoping to keep the babies away. Women would make a special garter to be worn around their thighs, with the testicles dangling. The superstition was spread by magicians, who often did give medical advice. Our magicians today are not the same as they were in the Dark Ages. They would travel and gather donations for performing miracles, or actually even practicing medicine. So, getting your birth control advice from one isn’t that weird. It’s just the advice itself that is.

Beaver Balls

Yup, the ball keeps moving. But this method is from 16th Century Canada, not the Dark Ages. From what I can piece together, a beaver’s testicles were dried and then ground into a fine powder. Mixed with very strong moonshine, the concoction was drunk, though whether by the man or the woman (or both) could be debated. This ancient contraceptive is even stranger than the use of weasel balls, because one would actually consume the balls in this case. Up until this point, I have only heard of testicles being ingested for virility. I wonder how well this ancient birth control method worked…

Iron and Gin

This one is a little more modern, most likely used in the 19th century. When people were downing mercury and morphine to cure their ailments, a common birth control was a shot of gin with flecks of iron in it. The drink may have had the desired results, but at the cost of iron poisoning, and a stiff hang over. Iron has a very high toxicity, and can leave lasting effects. So, please: This is no Goldschläger.

Opium

The list of ancient contraceptive methods is becoming more grim, don’t you think? Women would make a diaphragm of opium paste and push it up their vaginal canal, up against the cervix. This is how a modern diaphragm works… but thank goodness modern ones aren’t laced with opium.

Blacksmith Water

Oh yes, as if opium wasn’t a big enough issue, try imagining drinking the sludge from a blacksmith’s shop. This ancient birth control can be traced back to ancient Greece. The method works, to the point that the toxic water left over is known to cause sterility. So, I guess the women who used this ancient contraceptive method found that it worked, though maybe not exactly how they had hoped.

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5 Ancient Contraceptive Methods That Will Make You Cringe