nations. Perhaps the church learned from the Crusades how much happier and content a populace is when they have an outside enemy to fear and hate. The last Crusade was in 1270, leaving no great enemy or quest for the followers of the church to rally around. The witch-hunts cost the church almost nothing compared to the Crusades, but they nonetheless gave the populace a common enemy to hate and fear, so that they would look straight to the church for their salvation.
In addition to the increased attention from the common people, the church gained significant power throughout Europe from the people's justified fear of the witch-hunters, whom had the power to arrest, torture, and execute high government officials and petty nobility. Beyond that, the church likely benefited from the elimination of so many members of the marginalized groups that were not so directly within their power such as the Jews and remaining pagans. The church had reasons to worry about their power; Co
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