Caliban and the Witch

About “Caliban and the Witch”

The essay by Silvia Federici explores how the transition from feudalism to capitalism was marked by extreme violence. It highlights how the state's power and the rise of capitalism were built on the suppression of urban and peasant movements, often expressed through religious heresy. These movements sought communal living and wealth sharing, but their destruction paved the way for the modern state, land enclosure, colonial exploitation, and the slave trade. Federici examines the witch hunts as a key example of social expropriation targeting women's bodies, knowledge, and reproduction. The essay also gives voice to marginalized groups, showing how their struggles against violence and exploitation continue to influence modern resistance.