Religious beliefs
The most significant factor in the persecution of witches was the religious beliefs of the time. Many people in Europe were devout Christians who believed that witchcraft was a form of heresy and that witches were in league with the Devil. The Bible contains several passages that condemn witchcraft, and many religious leaders interpreted these passages as a call to action against witches.
Superstition
In addition to religious beliefs, superstition also played a role in the fear of witches. Many people believed that witches had the power to cause harm, such as cursing people, causing illness, or even killing them. This belief was based on a combination of folklore, hearsay, and the testimony of people who claimed to have been harmed by witches.
Political and social tensions
Political and social tensions also contributed to the fear of witches. In a time of great social upheaval, many people were looking for scapegoats for their problems. Witches were often blamed for natural disasters, crop failures, and other misfortunes. They were also seen as a threat to social order, as they were often accused of being in league with the devil and of engaging in subversive activities.
As a result of these factors, witches were persecuted throughout Europe during Shakespeare's time. They were often accused of witchcraft based on flimsy evidence, and they were frequently subjected to torture and execution. Shakespeare himself reflected the beliefs and fears of his time in his works, and witches appear in several of his plays. most famously in *Macbeth* and *The Tempest*.