Etymology
The word castle is derived from the Latin word castellum, which is a diminutive of the word See more

Antecedents
Historian Charles Coulson states that the accumulation of wealth and resources, such as food, led to the need for defensive structures. The … See more

The positioning of castles was influenced by the available terrain. Whereas hill castles such as Marksburg were common in Germany, where 66 per cent of all known medieval were highland area while 34 per cent were on low-lying land, they formed a minority of … See more

Motte
A motte was an earthen mound with a flat top. It was often artificial, although sometimes it … See more

Once the site of a castle had been selected – whether a strategic position or one intended to dominate the landscape as a mark of power … See more

Due to the lord's presence in a castle, it was a centre of administration from where he controlled his lands. He relied on the support of those below him, as without the support of his more powerful tenants a lord could expect his power to be undermined. Successful lords … See more

As a static structure, castles could often be avoided. Their immediate area of influence was about 400 metres (1,300 ft) and their weapons … See more