Salem is famous for the witch trials that took place there in 1692. Historians explore the broken politics, complex history and local rivalries that resulted in mass hysteria and the supposed bewitchment of girls from the village, that led to mass scale accusations of witchcraft. Tune in to Witches: Truth Behind The Trials on Wednesdays at 8pm on National Geographic UK. | National Geographic UK

In Salem, Massachusetts, see when the witch trials began and why many of the accused needed to confess, in this clip from I Was There. Join Theo Wilson for new episodes of #IWasThere, Mondays at 10/9c on The HISTORY Channel. | HISTORY

Between February 1692 and May 1693, nearly 200 people—mostly women—were accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. In the centuries since, it's become a curious part of colonial American history—but how much do you actually know about the Salem Witch Trials? Find out more: https://on.natgeo.com/3C7GehO | National Geographic History

A brief history of the Salem Witch Trials | Boston.com