Malleus Maleficarum

The *Malleus Maleficarum*, or "The Hammer of Witches," is a 15th-century treatise written by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. It served as a legal and theological guide for the persecution of witches during the European witch hunts. The book outlines methods for identifying, prosecuting, and punishing suspected witches, asserting that witchcraft was a serious heresy. Its publication significantly influenced the witch trials, promoting fear and superstition about witchcraft in society. Although it was used to justify horrific actions, today it is studied as a historical document that reflects the cultural and religious attitudes of the time.