Malleus Maleficarum

Focusing on witchcraft, this influential treatise was authored by Heinrich Kramer and published in 1487, becoming a bestseller for nearly two centuries. It details the persecution of witches and outlines methods for identifying and prosecuting them. Despite its popularity, top theologians from the Inquisition criticized it for promoting unethical practices and inconsistencies with Catholic teachings on demonology. The work played a significant role in shaping the witch hunts of its time, reflecting the complex interplay between religion and societal fears.