| Medieval Castles were structures that changed | | | | from the Greek and the Turkish. Both of these |
| dramatically over the centuries of the Middle | | | | cultures were very proficient with stonework and |
| Ages. These changes were brought about by | | | | this new knowledge of architectural building |
| many factors like changes in warfare and the | | | | enabled the building of large and elaborate stone |
| influences of different cultures. Here is a brief | | | | fortresses throughout Europe. |
| history of how the Medieval Castle developed | | | | Castle building reached a feverish climax during the |
| over the five hundred years of the Middle Ages. | | | | thirteenth century with over five hundred |
| Around the tenth century the first castle-like | | | | massive and very intricate castles being built |
| structures were being built as defensive positions. | | | | throughout Europe. These castles were the |
| These defensive structures were called Motte and | | | | masterpieces that we now think of as medieval |
| Bailey and they were large mounds of dirt that | | | | castles and they had many design and engineering |
| were capped by wooden stockade fences and | | | | elaborations such as round towers. Up until this |
| buildings. Hundreds of these structures were built | | | | century the towers in castles were square but |
| during the century and they were very practical | | | | the square shape was vulnerable to battering |
| because they were made from local and easy to | | | | rams and had blind zones. Round towers were |
| get materials. They didn't require the massive | | | | stronger, less vulnerable, and had no blind spots. |
| resources that later stone castles would require. | | | | It was during the fourteenth century that the |
| During the eleventh century many changes were | | | | building of castles went into decline and then its |
| sweeping through Europe and among these | | | | eventual demise. Further developments in |
| changes was an engineering revolution that | | | | technology, and in particular the development of |
| enabled architectural building with stone. But this | | | | gunpowder and artillery brought about the demise |
| engineering growth alone was not enough for the | | | | by making it impractical and futile to spend ten |
| building of large fortresses because that required | | | | years or more to build a castle that could be |
| a substantial commitment of time, resources and | | | | totally destroyed by a few days of artillery fire. |
| money. But there was also a social change | | | | But the castle didn't disappear. It evolved into less |
| sweeping through Europe. Lords and Kings were | | | | of a security structure and more of a living |
| consolidating large kingdoms and gaining the wealth | | | | quarters for royalty and wealthy families or what |
| that made the building of large stone castles | | | | we now think of as a Palace. |
| possible. In order to protect their lands or to gain | | | | The medieval castle was an art and engineering |
| a hold in adjoining lands lords and kings built stone | | | | form that evolved dramatically over a period of |
| fortresses. These stone fortresses were very | | | | about five hundred years and reflected changes in |
| similar to the Motte and Bailey structures of the | | | | warfare, culture, engineering and society. |
| previous century and they were often called | | | | To learn more about Medieval castles visit the |
| "shell-keeps". | | | | author's website at: |
| It was during the twelfth century that the | | | | Medieval Castles |
| massive stone keeps we normally consider to be | | | | To learn more about Medieval Knights visit his site |
| medieval castles took shape. As crusaders | | | | : |
| returned to Europe they brought with them the | | | | Knight-Medieval. |
| engineering and design knowledge they learned | | | | |