CASTLES AND CASTLE LIFE

All of the castles were built different and had unique features to fill the needs of the people living in them and keep out enemies. Also the environment had an impact on how they looked. But all the castles has these things in common, they all had defensive barbicans or walls, deep moats, kitchens, a great hall, and a donjon also known as a keep.

Early castles were built out of wood. They were a motte-and-bailey style, which is when they make a big flat top mound and put a fence around the edge and build the castle in there. Later castles had stone walls, made from local stone. The floor and ceiling was made of wood. And tin was used for roofing.

When building the castles they would start out as far as the land let them go, then they would build in to the center. The did this so they could have multiple lines of defense so an attacking army was always facing new challenges. The defenses were, the castle was built on a hill, the moat, the outer wall, the inner wall, and the the castle keep were the people lived.

The most important people living in the castles were the Lord, the Lady, and the bishop. Then the was the Atillators who made crossbows, Butlers who were in charge of wine and beer, Castilians who were in charge of the castle, Chaplains who gave spiritual welfare, supervised building operations, was the clerk, kept accounts, and tended the chapel. Then there was the Cook who roasted, broiled and baked food, Knights who were professional soldiers, and Messengers who were servants of the lord that carried receipts, letters and commodities. That's who lived in the castle.

Castle life was busy and loud because hundreds of people could be living in it at once, depending on the lords status. Life really revolved around the lords requirements. There was a lot of traveling so life included packing, moving and unpacking.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• "Materials and process used in medieval castle construction" www.medieval-castle-siege-weapons.com/medieval-castle.html
• Medieval castle floor plans" medievalcasltes.stormthecastle.com/castle-floor-plans.htm
• "Medieval castle layout: the different rooms and areas of a typical castle" www.exploring-castles.com/castle_designs/medieval_castle_layout/
• "Medieval castle life" www.ancientfortresses.org/medieval-castle-life.htm
• "People of the castle" castles.org/dokuwiki/kids/parts-of-a-castle/people