Why have historians of witchcraft turned to other disciplines like anthropology as approaches to the subject?

Question

Why have historians of witchcraft turned to other disciplines like anthropology as approaches to the subject?

Answer 1

just a guess, but i think they usually turn to anthropology because most schools don't have a class in the history of witchcraft. this way, they learn anthropology and use that knowledge to approach witchcraft. thats just my opinion though, i really have no idea.

Answer 2

I have never heard this to be true.  However, if I'm reading your question properly, it might be that those who are interested in human behavior often go into anthropology.  Therefore, if an individual is interested in both, an anthropological look at witchcraft would certainly be appropriate.  

It is liken to someone interested in religion might take a religious look at witchcraft.

Answer 3

Because if they stick to the history department and try to specialize in witchcraft, their colleagues will get sick of talking to them about it.  In anthropology, everyone always has something to say about witchcraft in whatever culture they specialize in and in whatever cultures are most common in literature on magic.  There's room for both, of course, but I think researchers tend to want to have people to have an engaging conversation about their research with.  That's easier on subjects like witchcraft in anthropology and specialization in witchcraft is more tolerated in anthropology than in history where witchcraft seems like such a small part of millennia of war and politics and trade and famine and plague.

Plus, as was mentioned above, I think every anthropology department has a class on Ritual, Religion, and Magic but few history departments have comparative classes.

Answer 4

because witchcraft involves beliefs of people, their motives of believing in it etc etc

and anthropology, being the study of man, covers just that