Castles Essay -- essays research papers fc

CastlesIn medieval times, castles served as the home and fortress of a monarchor noble. The earliest castles were strengthened from earth and wood. By the 12thcentury, most castles were construct 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 steep hill sides or at the top of jolty cliffs.This was for protection from attackers. It made it harder for them to reach thecastle.Castles in any case had additional purposes. They sometimes served as barracks,prisons, storehouses, armories, treasure houses, and the center 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 some(prenominal)meters thick. They usually had 3 layers a rough stone inner shell , a thick,solid filling 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 adjudge 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 boiling water to be thrown down on theenem...