Castles

Question 1

Requirements of a castle

Answer 1

• On high ground with good view
• Near water for farming, bathing, washing
• If near a river it has to be navigatable (be near a bridge/crossable)
• Near fertile land for live stock and farming
• On solid ground

Question 2

Why castles?

Answer 2

When William the Conqueror invaded England, he didn’t have nearly enough men to control England. So he built castles at strategic places to defend valuable land (hills, rivers, towns)

Question 3

Historical significance of castles

Answer 3

Protected territory during conflict between early medieval kings and nobility and enabled kingdoms to grow. Without castles, manors and kingdoms would be vulnerable.

Question 4

Motte and Bailey

Answer 4

Advantages- built on a motte for good view, can be built fast/easily out of wood, can destroy bridge connecting motte and bailey.
Disadvantages- flammable, vulnerable to siege equipment, palisade easily broken by battering ram

Question 5

Square Keep

Answer 5

Advantages- tall thick stone walls that were hard to climb/break, narrow windows for archers, entrances had a portcullis that could be adjusted vertically
Disadvantages- long time to build, corners left sides vulnerable if they fell, attackers can get close and become hard to shoot

Question 6

Concentric

Answer 6

Advantages- corners have round turrets for protection, lower secondary wall for archers to fire over, death/murder hole, outer wall traps people if it fails
Disadvantages- costly+time consuming to build, needs a large garrison to defend, walls can’t withstand cannon fire

Question 7

Motte

Answer 7

Mound of earth

Question 8

Portcullis

Answer 8

Vertically closing gate made of wood/metal

Question 9

Bailey

Answer 9

Outer wall of castle/courtyard within

Question 10

Keep

Answer 10

Fortified structure in the castle. The safest place to be.

Question 11

Palisade

Answer 11

Fence of wood or metal

Question 12

Moats

Answer 12

Ditch dug around a castle, usually filled with water.