The Medieval Castle

The Medieval Period lasted from the 10th century to the 17th century; this was the time of castles. The word castle is derived from the Latin word castellum which means fort. Castles still stand today as one of the most magnificent structures ever built. Not only are people fascinated with their grand splendor, but with their luminous presence of authority. Castles were not built for defense alone; they were symbols of social status, wealth, power, and intimidation. Kings and queens were not the only people to inhabit castles; noblemen could also construct their own castles. Castles were the main form of protection for most people living during the Medieval Period. The main purpose of the castle was for the defense of the inhabitants as well as the surrounding villagers. Kings and lords began to build castles on larger scales as a sign of their wealth and power. A castle could ward off an attacker simply by its presence. Because of their enormous size castles would strike fear into an enemy and gave security to those inside. The first castles were built by the Normans in the late 10th to early 11th centuries. Castles were then introduced to England by William the Conqueror. He began building castles in England to protect and hold the land he had conquered. These first castles were called motte and bailey. These early castles were made of wood and usually consisted of a tower with a wooden wall or bailey surrounding the land where farmers could house their livestock. These motte and bailey castles soon proved ineffective because the wood would rot quickly and could be easily burnt down. "Sometimes, motte and bailey castles evolved into very large and impressive stone fortresses." (Hull 1) This embarked the building of the stone castle. The castle was designed to keep unwelcome visitors out. The thick walls and high towers were virtually impenetrable, but the most important aspect to building a castle was the location. Many castles were