The%20Importance%20of%20Castles%20in%20Medieval%20Times

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The Importance of Castles in Medieval Times
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THESIS Castles were not merely homes for the
Lords and the noble class they were built to be
advanced defensive systems for Lords and Ladies
in vulnerable locations
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Castles and the Feudal System

• Because communication and transportation were
  difficult in Europe, the King couldnt control
  everything, everywhere at once..
• so, the King awarded Lords with land in
  return for
• allegiance and military support in time of
  crisis.

LORD MARCO
DUCHESS DULCE
KINGS LAND
SIR ANDY
SIR ANTONIO
SIR JORGE
DUCHESS BLANCA
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The Manor

• MANOR - the Lord's estate.
• It included the Lord's castle, the village, the
  church, the water mill to grind grain, the
  forests, and the planting fields.

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KNIGHTS AND WARFARE

• Without the structure of the Roman Empire, there
  was a lot of fighting between different Kings and
  Lords.
• Warfare was a way of life in the Medieval Period
  of History.

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KNIGHTS AND WARFARE

• .

• This warfare led to the development of a warrior
  class called the knights.
• The Lords had knights to protect their estates.

KNIGHT A mounted warrior
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KNIGHTS
A boy who was to become a knight was, at age
seven, sent away to the castle of his fathers
Lord to train to become a knight.

• Learned how to ride and fight.
• Learned how to keep his armor and weapons in good
  condition.
• Went through very intense training, where if they
  did not succeed they would be severely beaten.

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At age 21, the man was made into a knight, often
in a public ceremony.
In the name of God, Saint Michael, And Saint
George, I dub thee knight Be brave and loyal
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KNIGHTS

• Chivalry - code of conduct for knights during the
  Medieval Period.
• Requires knights to be brave in battle, loyal to
  his word, courteous and merciful to enemy, and
  generous to the poor and helpless.

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Heraldry

• Knights used a system of colors and symbols to
  identify who they were fighting for, so they
  could recognize each other in battle.
• Each noble family had a coat of arms with symbols
  and colors
• These colors were the first form of national
  flags.

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LIFE IN THE CASTLE

• Castles were not merely homes for the Lords
  and the noble class they were built to be
  advanced defensive systems for Lord's and Ladies
  in vulnerable locations.
• In times of war, the peasants, farmers, artisans,
  knights, and other nobles came inside the castle
  walls for protection.

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PRACTICAL MATTERS

• In order to be protected in a castle, there
  needed to be enough food and water within the
  castle walls.
• Food was stored in towers.
• The well was located inside the castle walls, so
  nobody would poison it.
• Animals were kept inside the walls in stables.

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GEOGRAPHY OF A CASTLE

• When building a castle they used the physical
  characteristics of the land to keep them safe.

• 1) Castles built on a mountain or a hill.
• - allowed them to see enemies from far away
• - harder work climbing up a hill to attack
• 2) Castles built by near a body of water
• - so they can escape quickly, if their castle
  is taken over
• - or they can get help from nearby friends
  coming in boats.

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BASIC ELEMENTS OF A CASTLE

• MOAT A Ditch, surrounding the castle usually
  filled with water or dangerous animals.

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BASIC ELEMENTS OF A CASTLE

• WALLS Usually very thick, 8-20 feet thick,
  topped with Crenellations.
• CRENELLATIONS a short wall on top of the castle
  wall, built with regular gaps for firing arrows.

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BASIC ELEMENTS OF A CASTLE

• GATE HOUSE The Castles entrance
• Had a drawbridge, a PORTCULLIS (iron grid
  door, that dropped vertically downward) and thick
  wooden beams to keep intruders out.

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BASIC ELEMENTS OF A CASTLE

• MURDER HOLES Holes in the ceiling of the gate
  house.
• If an unwanted visitor got in, castle attendants
  would poor boiling water, oil, dead cats or dead
  bodies, through the murder holes.

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BASIC ELEMENTS OF A CASTLE

• ARMORY Room for keeping weapons.
• CHAPEL For prayer and worship.
• HOUSING Private quarters were usually only for
  the wealthy or nobles.

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BASIC ELEMENTS OF A CASTLE

• GREAT HALL Dining/Entertainment room for
  everyone and sleeping quarters for servants.
• KITCHEN cooking food

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BASIC ELEMENTS OF A CASTLE

• TOWERS Used for watching the surrounding lands,
  for storing food, and keeping prisoners.

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Castles were equipped with several weapons and
defensive features to repel attack

• Crossbows and arrow loops.
• Trebuchet (catapult).
• Cauldrons of hot oil.
• Swords shields.

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Trebuchet
The trebuchet appeared in both Christian and
Muslim lands around the Mediterranean in the 12th
century. It could fling projectiles of up to 350
pounds at high speeds into enemy fortifications.
Occasionally, disease-infected corpses were flung
into cities in an attempt to infect and terrorize
the people under siege, a medieval form of
biological warfare. The trebuchet did not become
obsolete until the 13th century, well after the
introduction of gunpowder.
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CONCLUSION

• As you can see from the many parts of a castle,
  although lords, ladies, knights and peasants
  lived in and around the castles, their main
  purpose was as a defensive fortress.