Castles Essay -- essays research papers fc

castlingsIn medieval times, citadels served as the home and bulwark of a monarchor noble. The earliest castles were built from earth and wood. By the 12thcentury, most castles were built from stone. The stones came from local minesor quarries if possible, but sometimes they had to be carried long distances bywater or on ox wagons. The roofs of castles were covered with slates, claytiles, or wooden shingles.Castles were built on tincture hill sides or at the top of rocky cliffs.This was for protection from attackers. It make it harder for them to reach thecastle.Castles also had additional purposes. They sometimes served as barracks,prisons, storehouses, armories, treasure houses, and the summation for localgovernment. Castles sometimes had brewhouses, a laundry a huge bakers oven,workshops, dovecotes, and stables (MacDonald, p.12)Castle walls surrounded the entire castle and were usually severalmeters thick. They usually had 3 layers a rough stone inner shell, a thick,solid cha nge of flint and rubble, and an outer layer of stone called ashlar.(MacDonald, p.8) There was usually a walkway along the top of the walls soguards could keep watch. Some castle walls had spaces at the top calledembrassures, which allowed archers to shoot with the protection of the wall.These openings also permitted stones or turn water to be thrown down on theenem...