Medieval Castles
The Medieval Ages were known as one of the most violent periods of times in history. Because of this the architecture of castles changed drastically. Successfully defending a castle would depend on if the castle could defend a siege attack. Some defense features included moats, portcullis the barbican a gatehouse as well as crenellations and a drawbridge. (http://www.medievalwarfare.info/index.htm#towers) Castles were always built on land and were close to a body of water such as the ocean or a lake or a river. They were built like this so they could have an easy access to trade and the castles usually had a well so they had a constant water supply. They wanted to have an easy route for trade so they could have a constant supply of fresh foods
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(http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/) But, the castle could use the sewage as an advantage it could protect the castle from fire and ground troops and siege weapons. Some moats could be up to 30 feet deep. The people in the castles could have put very sharp wooden spikes or fill it with their sewage.
The Outer Certain Wall
Castles could usually have an outer certain wall. This wall could be 6-20 ft thick. (http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/) This wall would be one of the highest walls and was used for the protection of the inhabitants of the castle. It also made it easier to shoot arrows down at potential invaders.
The Gateway
The main entrance to the castle was called the gateway and it would be the most vulnerable part of a castle. (http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/) But, the castle would heavily bar the gate with thick metal and steel bars. The gateway also included a draw bridge and a murder hole and the barbican some extensions that were used for more protection.
Murder …show more content…
(http://www.medievalwarfare.info/index.htm#towers) In its simplest form, a battering ram is just a large, heavy log carried by several people and propelled with force against the target, the momentum of the ram damaging the target.
Some battering rams were supported by rollers. This gave the ram much greater travel so that it could achieve a greater speed before striking its target and was therefore more destructive.
Sometimes the ram's attacking point would be reinforced with a metal tip. Many battering rams had protective roofs and side-screens covered in materials, often fresh wet hides to prevent the ram being set on fire, as well as to protect the ram's operators of the ram from enemies firing arrows down on them.
When a castle was being attacked, defenders attempted to foil battering rams by dropping obstacles in front of the ram just before it hit a wall, using grappling hooks to immobilize the log, setting the ram on fire, or sallying out to attack the ram. Battering rams had an important effect on the evolution of defensive walls. Wooden walls were the easiest to
(http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/) But, the castle could use the sewage as an advantage it could protect the castle from fire and ground troops and siege weapons. Some moats could be up to 30 feet deep. The people in the castles could have put very sharp wooden spikes or fill it with their sewage.
The Outer Certain Wall
Castles could usually have an outer certain wall. This wall could be 6-20 ft thick. (http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/) This wall would be one of the highest walls and was used for the protection of the inhabitants of the castle. It also made it easier to shoot arrows down at potential invaders.
The Gateway
The main entrance to the castle was called the gateway and it would be the most vulnerable part of a castle. (http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/) But, the castle would heavily bar the gate with thick metal and steel bars. The gateway also included a draw bridge and a murder hole and the barbican some extensions that were used for more protection.
Murder …show more content…
(http://www.medievalwarfare.info/index.htm#towers) In its simplest form, a battering ram is just a large, heavy log carried by several people and propelled with force against the target, the momentum of the ram damaging the target.
Some battering rams were supported by rollers. This gave the ram much greater travel so that it could achieve a greater speed before striking its target and was therefore more destructive.
Sometimes the ram's attacking point would be reinforced with a metal tip. Many battering rams had protective roofs and side-screens covered in materials, often fresh wet hides to prevent the ram being set on fire, as well as to protect the ram's operators of the ram from enemies firing arrows down on them.
When a castle was being attacked, defenders attempted to foil battering rams by dropping obstacles in front of the ram just before it hit a wall, using grappling hooks to immobilize the log, setting the ram on fire, or sallying out to attack the ram. Battering rams had an important effect on the evolution of defensive walls. Wooden walls were the easiest to