Witch trials in the early modern period

During the early modern period (roughly 1500s and 1600s), people in Europe believed that some people had magical powers and could use those powers to do bad things. People believed that these people, called witches, could cast spells, create storms, and cause sickness among animals and people. People became scared of witches and started accusing people of being witches. In some countries, special trials were set up to catch and punish these witches. In the trial, people who were accused of being witches had to try and prove their innocence. Unfortunately, many people were found guilty, even if they weren't really witches, and were punished harshly, sometimes even killed.