Preview

Architectural Designs of Castles vs. Modern Homes

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1207 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Architectural Designs of Castles vs. Modern Homes
Is the architectural design of modern homes slowly changing back to the architectural design of castles in the Middle Ages? If design of homes is changing back to design of castles is it a reflection on our society that castles of the Middle Ages were built primarily for defense. Does this mean that as a society we are tying to pull away from each other? There are many similar characteristics and features between modern homes and castles that are incorporated into the design specifically for defense reasons. Castles in the Middle Ages were built primarily for defense in war. They were constantly being attacked so they had to be built very strong and almost impenetrable. Castles were very large to protect from invaders, but they were definitely not made for comfort. They were very dirty inside, but their main purpose was for defense. Castles were built with very strong walls. Some of the castles had walls that could be as big as thirty feet thick. They also had multiple walls so that if invaders got past the outer wall they still had to get past one or two more, this made defending the castle much easier. The walls were constructed with narrow, wedge-shaped slits in them for archers to shoot arrows at invaders. The outer walls also had holes in the floors for defenders to drop rocks down on invading people who had gotten through the first wall. These holes were called murder holes. Inside the castle were many knights, archers, and soldiers prepared to defend against anyone who breaks all of the way through the walls and gets inside of the castle. Castles also had very large gates and gatehouses to let people into the castle. There was a gatehouse for each wall. Each gatehouse usually had a very large metal and wooden gate that could be lowered into the opening to stop an enemy from getting in or it could be raised to let friends in. Besides huge gates, outer gatehouses also had drawbridges, which could be lowered across moats to let people into

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    An earth embankment was built across the harbour mouth to protect the ships from the weather, and a castle was constructed at the top of the hill. The remnants of these may still be seen today. Then the Normans pillaged and burned the surrounding area, in order to force Harold to come south and defend his…

    • 9305 Words
    • 38 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When building many of the castles in the 1300-1400’s the main purpose was to keep the enemies out and of course for conquest. In the video I watched, the Forbidden Knowledge video, they called out some very key point of why and how these fortresses and castles where erected and defended. Not only where there kings of the lands, but then each of those lands were divided up to noble kin and lords. They were always trying to better there futures with more land, even if that included killing your own cousin to get his piece of land. One great example of an intuitive fortress, Caesar had made a donut shaped fortress at one point around a small town; he shut out and was starving the people in the town and then also keeping out the men that were…

    • 205 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The castle was built to protect the people within its walls. Castles had to be strategically placed so that if it was attacked, the castle would have the upper hand. Castles were built on higher ground so their enemies would be tired after a long hike up, and their arrows wouldn't go as far. However, the arrows coming from the castle would fly longer and would be more powerful. The castle was close to a source of fresh water or, they would have a well within the castle walls. The moat would also be dug around the castle. Moats could be 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep. They were filled with rocks and…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The castles listen on A&E’s “American’s Castles” belonged to the rich and famous. By looking at the history of some of the families that owned these castles, it is easy to see why people say that America is the land of opportunity.…

    • 203 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    goodrich castle

    • 318 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Goodrich castle is located in Goodrich, Herefordshire it is believed that this castle was built by Normans when they invaded England. The windows and architecture supports this however the exact time the castle is built is still unknown. Firstly the keep was built by the Fitz Baderons, It is made of a light grey stone and it has a basic rectangular shape. In contrast the extra facilities added by the De valence family such as the kitchen, chapel and they extended the great hall. They are built of a more solid material with more modern shapes and extra detail and intricacy, (etc. arch windows, cross shaped arrow loops). The castle was thought to have been able to sustain up to 200 nobles and their servants.…

    • 318 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Living on a manor provided many advantages, but so did living in the city. If a knight lived in a town he would compete in jousting tournament and earn respect if he won (Macdonald 32). Knights living on a manor would keep the serfs in order and make sure they don’t do anything that is prohibited (Richardson 2). Yet not all the knights were good. There were many knights who did wrongfully, and because of their wrongdoings they were disgraced and punished (Walker 17). (STEWE-2) Knights also had a large arsenal of weapons and equipment that they used. The weapons that Knights used stayed the same throughout the middle ages. The weapon that knights used the most and changed the least throughout the centuries was a sword (Walker 14). In the right hands, swords could change the situation a knight was in from good to bad. Another common weapon that knights used in battle was a lance (Hilliam 17). Lances were long spear like weapons used by knights on horses (Hilliam 17). These weapons are very similar to the jousting lances, but the only difference between them was that the lance that was used during war had a pointed tip that could penetrate the armor and the jousting lance had a rounded tip that would just knock off the knight off a horse…

    • 2289 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Modern architecture is new ideologies of architectural that show up in many Western countries in the decade after industrial revolution I. It was based on the rational use of modern materials, the principles of functionalist planning, and the reject of what it is exists and miscellaneous decoration. This style has been generally designated as modern, although the labels International style and functionalism have also been used.…

    • 1028 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Actually we can imagine that the medieval castle was a very busy and noisy place . There might be hundreds of people living in it. But crowdy as it is ,the everyday life of anyone living in the castle was strictly ruled by the Codes of conduct and the Codes of Chivalry which advocates the courtly manners and love .…

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    - Different angle to separate different areas like doctors’ wing and lounge for different function.…

    • 671 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Medieval Castles Assignment Part A- Explanation The Medieval period was a time from 650CE until 1550CE that occurred after the fall of Rome in 476CE and if often known as the darkest and bloodiest period in history in which castles were established. Survival in the Middle Ages was based on power and your social standing which is why castles were introduced. After William the Conqueror defeated the English in the Battle of Hastings in 1066 he introduced castles to help defend the land he had conquered. William the Conqueror was an important figure in The Medieval Period as he introduced feudalism the social organisation structured as a pyramid with the pope at the top followed by kings and queens.…

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Castles were originally built in France but were introduced to England in 1066 by William the Conquer after the Battle of Hastings. One of the first castle types built in Europe was the ‘Motte and Bailey’. These “castles” were fortresses built out of wood on top of a hill with a wooden stake fence around the outside; usually with a moat-like ditch. The ‘Motte and Bailey’ weren’t very effective at preventing attacks since it was made out of wood and c easily be burn down. Because of this reccurring problem, in the late 11th century, architects then evolved the design of the ‘Motte and Bailey’ to a new castle; the ‘Keep’.…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Siege Weapons

    • 1660 Words
    • 7 Pages

    During the Dark Ages, along with the 17th and 18th centuries, fortified strongholds and castles were always changing and improving. However, as these fortifications improved, so did the siege weapons used to assault these defenses. Through the course of time the siege weapons and fortifications improved steadily which created close battles…

    • 1660 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Castles are commonly mentioned in fairy tales and horror stories, but real castles were very common during a time period known as the Middle Ages. “The castle was far more than a walled and turreted fortress; it was an instrument of social control and the symbol of power, authority, and wealth” (Stokstad xxvii). During the Medieval Ages, the main purpose of the castle was to protect the citizens of a particular kingdom. These huge fortresses played major roles in the society of the Medieval Ages, along with their magnificent architecture, castle are still popular today.…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Secondly, castles in the Shakespearian time period were deceiving in appearance. They are looked upon as glorious structures that were beautiful, peaceful, and everything but cold and reeking of feces. Such a setting is Macbeth's castle; it's deceiving appearance clarifies the deceiving actions of the characters that inhabit it. The king, as Macbeth's guest, is first to be deceived by the castle. "This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses." (1.6.1-3) This shows that the king is pleased with the setting. The castle's deceiving quality also clarifies Lady Macbeth's mentality. "To beguile the time, look like the time."…

    • 548 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Knights

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages

    It was the duty of a Middle Ages Knight to learn how to fight and to serve their liege Lord according to the Code of Chivalry. The Code of Chivalry dictated that a Knight should be brave and fearless in battle but would also exhibit cultured Knightly qualities showing themselves to be devout, loyal, courteous and generous. (Bouchard 2) Weapon practice included enhancing skills in the two-handed sword, battle-axe, mace, dagger and lance. A Knight would be expected to guard the Castle and support his liege lord in Middle Ages warfare. Details of the life of Middle Age knights in a castle, together with castle warfare, are covered in the section about Middle Ages Castles.…

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays