Why were hundreds of women between 1560 and 1603 executed?

Between 1560 and 1603, hundreds of women were executed primarily due to accusations of witchcraft and heresy during a period marked by religious and social upheaval in Europe. The Protestant Reformation and subsequent conflicts heightened paranoia about witchcraft, leading to widespread witch hunts fueled by superstition, fear, and misogyny. Many women were targeted as scapegoats for societal problems, and trials often lacked fair legal processes, resulting in numerous executions. This era reflected broader societal anxieties and the harsh consequences faced by those deemed deviant or threatening to the established order.