West European Studies

Origins of Castles
As defined in the website  HYPERLINK httphistory.howstuffworks.commiddle-agescastle-history.htmHow Stuff Works, castles are fortified structures designed to serve primarily as defensive strongholds that flourished during the medieval ages due in part to the rise of feudalism.  The constant warfare between tribes, towns and early city-states necessitated the building of such fortifications to protect people from pillagers and invaders.   Aside from offering protection from attackers, castles also served as residences for monarchs, princes, feudal lords, the nobility and their servants that later on also included peasants and serfs.   The website Historymedernabout.com also noted that a number of castles also served as outposts and sheltered travelers from bandits  and thieves.

Evolution of Castles
According to the website  Castles.org, the earliest forms of castles are found in Babylon and Ashur, dating back to about 1600 BC.  Among the most notable forms of castles however were those built in Europe beginning in the 9th century.   The website Britannica.com noted that the prehistoric Maiden Castle in England, which was built around a simple earthwork, was among the earliest forms of medieval castles in the European continent.   Other notable early European castles were at Blois and Saumur in France.  

The website Middle-ages.org described the appearance of motte-and-bailey form of fortifications as a signal of the emergence of castles as a dominating  defensive structure.     First introduced by the Normans in 990 AD at Mont Glonme in France, the motte-and-bailey  castle is typically constructed around a mound called the  motte .  Often filled with water, the motte, which usually is between 50 and 120 feet in height and up to 300 feet in diameter, became the earliest type of castle motte.  The surrounding yard, which is called the  bailey  contained barracks, stables, livestock and other structures which were used for storing equipment, weapons and food.  A wooden tower, which was usually up to three storeys high, was oftentimes erected within the motte.  It not only served as a watch post but was also used as an accommodation for the lord and his knights.   The ground floor of the tower usually housed the main hall while the top floor served as the lords residence.  The base of such tower was usually surrounded by the castles timber wall called rampart and palisades.   Among the more distinguishable parts of a motte-and-bailey castle was its imposing fortified gate and drawbridge.   Motte-and-bailey castles were usually strategically erected on high grounds and between two rivers.  Such castles were built atop former Roman and Saxon fortresses and often overlooked towns or harbors.   With the motte-and-bailey castles, the lords imposed their authority over local people and caused fear among enemies.   The defensive ditches around the fortifications also helped deter enemy advances.   These kinds of castles eventually became obsolete as they were susceptible to fire.  Weather, particularly rain, is also a major factor, causing the timber material to easily rot.  

Historylearningsite.co.uk stated in their website that later castles called the  Stone Keeps  and the  Concentric Castles  became more formidable as they were built in stone.  These new types of fortresses contained the same features of the motte-and-bailey castles but its towers, rampart and palisades as well as other key parts were made of thick stone.  Among the more notable stone keeps and concentric castles are the White Tower at the Tower of London  and Caernarvon Castle, respectively.          

According to  Middle-ages.org.uk, castle defenders used various weapons to overwhelm their enemies.    Spears, bows and arrows as well as giant crossbows called  ballista  were fired from strategic locations such as in the loopholes or meurtrieres and atop ramparts and palisades.  Defenders also usually poured boiling oil onto besieging enemies.  The same source states that castle attackers utilized siege machines such as ladders, siege towers, battering rams, catapults, trebuchets and mangonels.   Fire was also frequently used by both defenders and attackers HYPERLINK httpwww.middle-ages.org.ukattacking-a-castle-in-the-middle-ages.htm.

Decline of Castles
The History.net stated in their website that the theory of scholars Mark Donnely and Daniel Diehl that the foremost cause of the decline of castles was the eventual fall of feudalism due to the rise of mercantile economy in Europe.  This phenomenon not only  led to the growth of cities, it also removed the power from the nobles.   The development of gunpowder, artillery and mortar weapons as well as smaller firearms during the 15th century finally ensured the demise of castles as bastion.  Cannon and mortar blasts showed not only once that it can pulverize fortresses, castle defenders proved to be no match to a small number of attacking infantrymen that were using firearms as well.   The once highly regarded British castles not only became victims of the English Civil War, a number also fell into decay due to the downfall of the nobility.  The website Castles of Britain stated that by 1650, almost all of the major castles in Great Britain had become useless.  Other castles elsewhere in Europe and other parts of the world suffered the same fate.        

Castles at Present
A number of castles nowadays serve as residences of royalties and wealthy families, while others were turned into hotels and tourist destinations. Among the most famous and frequently visited European castles as enumerated by Travelersdigest.com are the Castelo de Sao Jorge in Portugal, Prague Castle in the Czech Republic, Brodick Castle in Scotland, Chambord Castle in France, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, Lincoln Castle in England, Glamis Castle in Scotland, Mont Saint Michel Castle in France, Frankenstein Castle in Germany and Leeds Castle in England.