Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

100

NormaN castle

the Normans built many

stone castles such as this

one (above) at Dover,

england, between

the 11th and

13th centuries.

rouND towers

later castles had round towers. rocks bounced

off the curved surface and did less damage.

How castles developed

International wars, especially the

crusades in the middle east, led

to bigger armies, more powerful

weapons, and stronger, more

sophisticated defenses.

these wars speeded

up castle building.

spaNIsh castle

some castles, such as the alcázar

in segovia, spain, became

motte aND baIley magnificent royal palaces.

early castles were built as

a motte (hill) and bailey

(court). they were made

of wood and burned easily.

DaIly lIfe

a castle was like a

small community.

as well as the baron

and baroness, their

family, servants, and

soldiers, the castle

housed dozens of

craftsworkers who

kept the buildings and

equipment in good repair.

food was brought in from the

surrounding countryside or

grown in the castle garden.

The kitchen was usually in a

separate outhouse, because

it kept catching on fire.

The lord and lady’s

bedchamber was

richly furnished.

Spiral staircases

were designed

so swordsmen

could fight

on them

if necessary.

Prisoners were

kept in chains in

the dungeons.

The storerooms were

in the basement of the

castle. Sacks could be

pulled up to the next

floor by a pulley.

Bees were kept to

provide honey, and

herbs were grown for

medicinal purposes.

Bailey

the keep

at the heart of the

castle stood the keep, a

thick-walled stone tower

several stories high.

this was the last refuge

in a siege, but in

peacetime it was also

home to the lord’s

family and followers.

the entrance to the keep was always on the first

floor, through the guardroom. above this was a

great hall for feasting, and sometimes sleeping.

the lord’s own rooms were on the top floor.

Doves lived

in the

dovecote

and were

killed for

food.

“Fairy tale”

turret

Find out more

crusades

knights and heraldry

medieval europe

Normans

The keep

Motte

Castle by day

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