1. Medieval Castles
Useless or Useful?

2. Castle Characteristics
Castles were to be livable:
Permanent residences for the noble family
Retainers
Servants
Castles were to be defensible :
Defensible fortifications
Built in features were suppose to make it easier to defend in case of attack.
Early castles were made of wood
By 11th century stone castles were being built

4. Building a castle Basic plan had two parts:
Motte- man made or natural steep-sided hill
Bailey- open space next to the motte
Bothe motte and bailey were surrounded by large stone walls.

5. Early Motte & Bailey Castle

6. The Keep Keep- Central building of castle was built upon the motte
Basement- housed storerooms for equipment and food stuffs
Ground floor- stables and kitchens
Main Hall- above the ground floor & served many purposes:
Lords held court and received visitors
Sleeping and eating quarters
Sometimes a chapel

9. More Modern Castle

10. Warwick Castle, England

11. Caernorfon Castle, Wales

14. Useful or Useless?
Now you need to determine if the medieval castle was useful or useless?
Was it livable?
Was it defendable?
Use your notes, and book pages 294 and 295 to complete the castle activity!