Fear
c. 500 BCE
South Africans began practicing magic to combat the fear of crop failure and disease. Those who could perform good magic were the authorities of a community (medicine man, priests, leaders) and worked to keep the constantly lurking evil (that intended to do the innocent harm) at bay. Anyone who used magic for evil was considered a witch.
1700s CE
During this time, humorism was the accepted basis of health. It was believed that there were four fluids in the body that determined your health. However, because fear and anxiety were not directly tied to one of the fluids, it was believed that fear was caused by outside factors.
To restore a normal temperament, doctors recommended "changes in environment, diet, and even bloodletting."
1940s-1950s
After World War II, the Red Scare took over America. The population was terrified by the threat posed by a possible Communist-infiltration in American democracy. This lead to the widespread fear of job loss and ostracism in federal government employees, as well as a general feeling of distrust and a lack of safety in general American life.
1933-1945
The rise of the Nazi Party in Germany was successful because of a campaign of intimidation against political opponents, as well as the systematic restriction of citizens' rights. World War II resulted from Germany's unchecked power-grabs.
431-404 BCE
In Greece, the Peloponnesian War broke out between Sparta and Athens. The main reason fighting began was over Sparta's fear of Athens growing to a size that would challenge Sparta's authority as the most powerful city-state.
1324 CE
When young church musicians began using more than one instrument for worship instead of the traditional monophonic Gregorian chants, Pope John XXII banned polyphonic music, as it was seen as "intoxicate the ear without satisfying it." This lead to a fear of greed in music.
