The European Witch Hunts were a series of campaigns against alleged witches in Europe, primarily from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Thousands of people, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft, leading to trials and executions. These hunts were fueled by social, religious, and political factors, including the rise of Protestantism and the fear of the Black Death. The hunts often involved brutal methods of interrogation and torture to extract confessions. Many accused individuals were executed by burning or hanging. The decline of the witch hunts began in the late 17th century as rationalism and the scientific revolution gained prominence, leading to a reevaluation of beliefs about witchcraft.