Final answer:
The influence of religion on law enforcement changed between c1000-c1700 as society shifted from divine judgment methods to central religious institutions enforcing conformity, notably the Inquisition and witchcraft trials. These changes were prompted by the need to control increasingly complex societies and were also influenced by societal traumas and environmental pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The changes in how religion affected law enforcement from c1000-c1700 reflect shifts in societal beliefs, legal practices, and power structures. Initially, methods such as trial by ordeal were common, with the belief that divine intervention would reveal the truth. The trial by fire, for example, was seen by observers like Abu Zayd as a way to let the gods decide guilt, though his account may carry biases. Over time, as society became increasingly stratified, and centralized power structures like monarchies rose, religious institutions like the Catholic Church sought to reinforce their influence by imposing uniformity of belief through mechanisms such as the Inquisition. The Inquisition reinforced religious doctrine aggressively, with Pope Gregory IX establishing an office for the centralized persecution of heresy in the 1230s. Tactics included torture and execution, and by seizing lands and property, there was an incentive to perpetuate these persecutions.
Accusations of witchcraft also became a tool for explaining and resolving social conflicts. In areas like Puritan New England, witch trials were a response to traumatic events, including wars and social upheaval. Women were primarily targeted, supposedly more susceptible to evil influences. High-profile cases like the Salem Witch Trials underscored the intersection of religion, fear, and the need for societal control. These persecutions were at times linked to environmental pressures, as communities sought explanations for natural disasters and communal hardships. As the legal system evolved, these practices were critiqued and reformed, leading to a shift away from such religiously influenced judicial proceedings.