Medieval Castle Research Paper

The castle. A symbol of the Middle Ages. A great fortification made from the fall of the Roman Empire, to the 1500s. The word castle originated from the Latin word "castrum", which means town, a walled enclosure, a stronghold, or just a tower. From little wooden towers surrounded by a logs, to great stone fortresses with elaborate designs and structures. When the Roman Empire was falling, people set out to the country side to begin a new life. Struggles between lords for power led to battles, so they built the castle. 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
With new methods for cutting stone, stone castles became very sturdy structures. Raiders still found a way to get past a castles stone walls by digging under the walls and blowing them up. So castle walls were built deeper into the ground. If raiders ever got over a castle moat and were able to climb the walls, the people defending the castle would build temporary structures that would hang over the side of the castle so they could drop large stones, hot oil, or Greek fire (a large pottery container that would burst into flames when the pottery broke) on enemies. Usually, castles had multiple walls with courtyards in between. This would slow the enemy down and weaken them. The courtyards in between walls were known as