Covering a period of 2000 years, this book offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the devil's role in the Western tradition and draws from history, religion, art, literature, media studies, and anthropology to provide a multifaceted view of the devil over time.The Routledge History of the Devil in the Western Tradition examines topics such as the devil's scriptural origins, medieval development, and role in witch-hunting and possession cases, as well as the influence o...

The Medieval Devil is a unique collection of primary sources that examines the development of medieval society through the lens of how people perceived the devil. In exploring where and how Europeans discerned his presence, detected his machinations, and sought to counter his actions, readers will be afforded a new and important point of entry into medieval history.Each chapter begins with an introduction to familiarize readers with critical issues and to contextualize the...

This book explores the manifold ways of knowing—and knowing about— preternatural beings such as demons, angels, fairies, and other spirits that inhabited and were believed to act in early modern European worlds. Its contributors examine how people across the social spectrum assayed the various types of spiritual entities that they believed dwelled invisibly but meaningfully in the spaces just beyond (and occasionally within) the limits of human perception. Collectively, the volume demonstr...