Castles Flashcards
Motte
A man made hill with a keep on top
Bailey
The village at the bottom of the motte
Moat
A big pool of water surrounding a castle
Portcullis
A big metal gate with spikes on the bottom
Machicolations
Little holes on the side of the castle for dropping things through
how do you attack a castle?
fire, mine, battering ram, scaling ladders, sledge tower, trebuchet,crossbow
if the castle is made of wood and earth (motte and bailey castle) what weapons would be most effective?
fire? anything else?
what is a crow ? how was it used?
an enormous fishing line that could swoop down and pick up an attacker
what was a counter-mine?
defenders dug under the attackers mine causing tunnel to collapse
what would a moat do?
it would prevent mining because a mine under a moat would flood, it would also be difficult to use siege equipment
what are siege equipment?
siege towers and ladders
what is a concentric castle?
it has no keep. it has a high inner wall and a low outer wall.
initially what was gunpowder used for ?
used to frighten away the enemy
what is a barbican?
an extended gatehouse outside the castle
what was more vulnerable round or square towers? why?
round towers were more difficult to mine because missiles just glanced off
