Final answer:
The witch craze started in the 15th century and became especially pronounced during the 17th century, notably with the Salem witch trials of 1692. It involved a period of mass hysteria and executions, fueled by deep-seated beliefs in witchcraft and the supernatural within Puritan society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The witch craze, often associated with events like the Salem witch trials, began earlier than the 17th century. It can be traced back to the 15th century, when beliefs in witchcraft and supernatural influences started to gain traction across Europe. It proliferated leading into the 17th century, culminating in the infamous Salem witch trials in 1692, set against the background of Puritan New England. Within this context, spectral evidence and fears of devilry contributed to the mass hysteria, leading to numerous accusations and executions for witchcraft.
Such hysteria was influenced by prominent ministers like Cotton Mather and Increase Mather, fueled by prior events and publications like Cotton Mather's Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions (1689). The witchcraft scare ultimately abated by the fall of 1693, marking an end to a tragic chapter in history defined by superstition and scapegoating amid social and environmental pressures such as the Little Ice Age.