Unveiling non-elite female knowledge

In this article, aims to examined the acquisition and dissemination of magical knowledge among non-elite women in urban Lisbon through the analysis of denunciations, testimonies, and statements from the 1637 trial of Maria de Ortega by the court of the Inquisition. I argue that this knowledge was produced and spread collectively within semi-intimate circles and that local social networks, resulting from their presence in public spaces, were crucial for the commercialization of magical practices, serving as a means of economic survival for these women. Their life stories and oral strategies before the Holy Office reflect the accumulated experiences and social dynamics of urban spaces, highlighting how diverse forms of knowledge were acquired and utilized to their advantage. For these women, witchcraft and sorcery functioned as a form of labor

Ancient history · Elite · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Colonialism, slavery, and trade · Gender Studies · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes · History · Law