The European witch hunts were a series of campaigns against alleged witches in Europe from the late 15th to the 18th centuries. These hunts were fueled by a mix of superstition, religious fervor, and social tensions, leading to thousands of executions. Many accused individuals were subjected to torture to extract confessions, often resulting in wrongful convictions. The hunts were particularly intense during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation periods, as both Protestant and Catholic authorities sought to eliminate perceived threats to their beliefs. The infamous Malleus Maleficarum, a witch-hunting manual, played a significant role in promoting the idea that witchcraft was a serious crime deserving of severe punishment.