Medieval Castle Research Paper
Castles are commonly mentioned in fairy tales and horror stories, but real castles were very common during a time period known as the Middle Ages. “The castle was far more than a walled and turreted fortress; it was an instrument of social control and the symbol of power, authority, and wealth” (Stokstad xxvii). During the Medieval Ages, the main purpose of the castle was to protect the citizens of a particular kingdom. These huge fortresses played major roles in the society of the Medieval Ages, along with their magnificent architecture, castle are still popular today.
A medieval kingdom commonly included a large castle, to house the royal family, knights, and servants, and a city with merchants, houses, and a church. The city was usually …show more content…
The weakest point was most likely the entrance in to the city, also refereed to as the gatehouse. To make the gatehouse more secure it was reinforced with a heavy, strong, doors. To help make sure nobody could attack the gatehouse many times there was a water-filled moat to create and obstacle to the doors. There was an area known as the bailey which was located inside the gate which was a guarded courtyard.
Inside the castle doors there was another reinforcement known as the keep. “The keep was traditionally the strongest and the most fortified part of a castle- and, in early Medieval times, its where the nobles would have to live”(Morris). It was not until later that nobles began to live in comfier residents in a grand hall type building.
The castles also consisted of other features including stables, elaborate dining halls ,and kitchens. One stereotypical feature that many people take interest in are the dungeons. Though most castles did not have dungeons some of the later constructed castles did have a holing place to hold criminals and enemies. The keep was mostly used to hold criminals. The dungeon in fact was no always located underground, the very first prisons were located in the
A medieval kingdom commonly included a large castle, to house the royal family, knights, and servants, and a city with merchants, houses, and a church. The city was usually …show more content…
The weakest point was most likely the entrance in to the city, also refereed to as the gatehouse. To make the gatehouse more secure it was reinforced with a heavy, strong, doors. To help make sure nobody could attack the gatehouse many times there was a water-filled moat to create and obstacle to the doors. There was an area known as the bailey which was located inside the gate which was a guarded courtyard.
Inside the castle doors there was another reinforcement known as the keep. “The keep was traditionally the strongest and the most fortified part of a castle- and, in early Medieval times, its where the nobles would have to live”(Morris). It was not until later that nobles began to live in comfier residents in a grand hall type building.
The castles also consisted of other features including stables, elaborate dining halls ,and kitchens. One stereotypical feature that many people take interest in are the dungeons. Though most castles did not have dungeons some of the later constructed castles did have a holing place to hold criminals and enemies. The keep was mostly used to hold criminals. The dungeon in fact was no always located underground, the very first prisons were located in the