Castles+of+the+High+Middle+Ages

Alex Berets and Andrew Eurdolian - Structure of a Castle - Attacking a Castle - Defending a Castle The structure of the castles built during the Middle Ages were well designed and quite complex, yet practical. Several smaller elements completed a castle, but the main parts define castles. Bordering the outside of most castles were moats. Moats were a large ring dug around the edge of a castle. They served defensive purposes, often containing water or wooden stakes, making things very difficult for enemy men and chivalry to cross the barrier.The only way across these moats were drawbridges. These bridges could lower down and away from the castle, so that exit and entry was easy during times of peace. However, when attack was imminent, drawbridges could be raised quickly, deleting entry to the castle. Early castles were often made of wood and were located on small hills However, the need for sophistication grew and castles developed new technology. As time went on, castles improved. They were set on hills and higher grounds and built with stone, instead of wood. Both of these improvements increased the protection of castles. Another extremely important part of the structure of the castle was called the curtain wall. This wall surrounded the bailey (area betwen moat and castle). It could be anywhere from 6 to 20 feet thick, and up to 45 feet tall and 1500 feet wide. Due to the Crusades, castles were heavily influenced by kings and knights that returned with architecture from lands in their travels. An example: King Edward the 1st journeyed home and built massive castles based on what he had seen and experienced during the Crusades. Above, a labeled illustration of a castle. Below, a more intricate diagram. Life in a catle of the Middle Ages was busy, and could become complicated. Every castle featured a hall. Halls were large rooms with stone floors. Halls were used for many things, among those, eating. Usually the king, and perhaps the lady of the castle would sit on extravagant thrones in their hall, to signify their importance. The halls were lit by rushlights and candles, often mounted on walls. Halls also might include a second floor. They often contained the heating system. Another busy place of in a castle was the kitchen. This was sometimes used to slaughter animals or prepare large feasts. Of course, meals were prepared here daily. Gardens located directly outside of the kitchen provided the inhabitants of the caslt with fresh fruits and vegetables. The owners of the castles also went to great lengths to accomadate guests.Private chambers for lords, ladies, and other important people were called solars. They included large beds with pillows, sheets, and blankets. Solars also included couches, chests, and sometimes a small storeroom for items such as jewelery. The water systems in the castles were also quite advanced, making castle life a lot more comfortable. Water used for washing or drinking was usually available at one point on each floor.
 * __Medieval Castles__**
 * __Table of Contents__**
 * -** Life in a Castle
 * __Structure of a Castle__**
 * __Life in a Castle__**

To prove the strength of a castle, there were many different weapons used against it. Engineers would calculate the most vulnerable points of a castle, and his side would use battering rams in an attempt to break it down. Battering rams were made of a large log with a tip of metal. The ram would be swung into weakspots in the walls or the drawbridge. Soldiers used mantlets to shield themselves from arrows. These mantlets were mobile, protecting soldiers as they moved up the battlefield. A more advanced weapon was the trebuchet. These trebuchets worked like a balance scale, using weight and gravity on one side so that the other would go up. The trebuchet had the ability to catapult a rock or a flaming ball up to 980 feet. The tortoise was a simple tool, basically a roof to shield soldiers from arrows so that they could attack the castles. The main goal of the siege of a castle was entry. (Medieval castle under attack) The extreme measures taken by the people attacking the castles, with all of the different weapons and techniques they uesd, only showed just how powerful the castles were. A castle's greatest defense was its curtain walls, due to their thickness. Another way that castles were defended were by their gatehouses. This was a sturdy protection over the gateway of the castle. It was heavily barred and often protected by something called a barbican. A barbican was a narrow passageway that had many different pathways towards the gatehouse. It contained several traps to kill or harm the enemy while going through. Another defense mechanism was the castle loophole. These were small, long windows that were used by armed castlemen to attack the enemy, without getting hit themselves. They varied in size so that they could accomadate different types of weapons. Unfortunately, the enemy could always surround a castle and cut off supply, forcing inevitable surrender.
 * __Attacking a Castle__**
 * __Defending a Castle__**

(A curtain wall that helped to protect the castle.) (Lowenburg Castle, Germany)

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 * __Bibliography:__**