​The witch craze ravaged Europe and its colonies in North America from the fourteenth to seventeenth century. An estimated 500,000 people were killed for witchcraft, and even more were accused and tortured. The majority of those accused of witchcraft were women, specifically older, poorer widows who were seen as outcasts from society. Witch trials were influenced by religion, as pagans were hunted during the Inquisition. In addition, misogyny played a large role in the numbers of women accused, as midwives and other women in medical fields were specifically stereotyped as witches. The destruction from the witch craze shows how during times of panic, people turn to blaming one another and the issue only escalates.