Castles Flashcards
Between 1066-86, how many motte and Bailey castles did the Normans build?
500
What was the first Norman castle?
Pevensey on the south coast
By 1086, how many large castles were built?
48
Who were castles built to protect?
Norman nobles and Lords
Who did castles defend against?
Angry locals
What were castles symbols of?
Norman oppression, control and power
How were castles visual symbols of the feudal system?
Norman rulers lived at the top of hills in castles and Anglo Saxon subjects lived at the bottom
Why were castles a constant reminder of Norman takeover and control?
Dominated the area and were huge compared to the surrounding Saxon villages
What was the outer bailey?
The area within the outer wall
Houses and buildings that needed to be kept safe
What was the outer bailey wall?
Very high walls with lookout posts
What were moats?
Dry or water ditches
What was the inner bailey?
Area within inner wall to protect the keep- last line of defence
What was the motte?
Mound of earth with keep on top
What were the gateways and gatehouses?
Entrances into the outer and inner baileys
Soldiers positioned here to offer protection
How long to build a motte and bailey castle?
2 weeks
What were motte and bailey castles made of?
Wood
When were stone keeps built?
After 1070
After when were castles made solely of stone?
1100
Where were castles built?
Areas of strategic importance such as old Roman roads or river crossings
Near towns, high ground, close to water/ resources like wood and natural defences
Where where many castles built along?
Welsh border
What was the Welsh border called?
The marchlands or the Welsh Marches
Examples of significant castles
Colchester, the Tower of London, Hastings, Windsor, Warwick
What natural defences were castles near?
Bends in a coast or river
Why was the keep the most secure part of the castle?
High, straight walls made it difficult to climb
Soldiers positioned here
Steep, narrow staircase
Crenellations (battlements)
