Castles in the Medieval Castles in the Medieval PeriodPeriod

By Lauren WilliamsBy Lauren Williams

History of CastlesHistory of Castles

• Medieval castles dominate the varied Medieval castles dominate the varied landscapes of Europe. Stone fortifications landscapes of Europe. Stone fortifications were nothing new to the continent, but were nothing new to the continent, but during the Middle Ages, there was an during the Middle Ages, there was an explosion of castle construction as feudal explosion of castle construction as feudal lords sought to show their power and lords sought to show their power and provide safe haven for the inhabitants of provide safe haven for the inhabitants of their kingdoms. Some were described to be their kingdoms. Some were described to be cold stone boxes, but others became cold stone boxes, but others became impressive reminders of years past. impressive reminders of years past.

Castle in France from the Castle in France from the medieval periodmedieval period

Medieval castlesMedieval castles

Castles in EuropeCastles in Europe

• Castles in Europe evolved from the Castles in Europe evolved from the first wooden forts made to lodge a first wooden forts made to lodge a garrison to spectacular stone garrison to spectacular stone structures able to support a small structures able to support a small army for extended times. army for extended times.

The Reifenstein Castle is one of The Reifenstein Castle is one of the best originally preserved the best originally preserved medieval castles in Italy, medieval castles in Italy, Europe. Europe.

Castle in the Medieval Castle in the Medieval periodperiod

Medieval CastlesMedieval Castles

• Large stone castles were built in Europe. These huge Large stone castles were built in Europe. These huge buildings served not only to defend the country from buildings served not only to defend the country from foreign invaders but as the basic tool in preserving the foreign invaders but as the basic tool in preserving the king’s and the nobles’ power over the land. The social king’s and the nobles’ power over the land. The social system was very firm in the Middle Ages.system was very firm in the Middle Ages.     Feudalism was the basic social structure in this time.      Feudalism was the basic social structure in this time. The land was held by the king. The king gave parts of this The land was held by the king. The king gave parts of this land to different high nobles, in return for their help in land to different high nobles, in return for their help in fighting his battles or in putting down rebellions. Not only fighting his battles or in putting down rebellions. Not only did the higher nobles have to fight for the king themselves, did the higher nobles have to fight for the king themselves, they had to supply a certain number of lesser lords and they had to supply a certain number of lesser lords and other knights to help fight also. These higher nobles then other knights to help fight also. These higher nobles then gave some of their land to lesser knights, in return for their gave some of their land to lesser knights, in return for their help in battle. Below all the knights were the serfs, who help in battle. Below all the knights were the serfs, who actually farmed the land. The lords were not supposed to actually farmed the land. The lords were not supposed to go on back roads because they feared the rebels. go on back roads because they feared the rebels. 

Medieval CastlesMedieval Castles

Cited page:Cited page:

• http://www.medieval-castles.net/http://www.medieval-castles.net/

• http://www.yourchildlearns.com/http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle_history.htmcastle_history.htm