Customer Reviews

The Medieval Castle (Building History)

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I have been fascinated with castles since visiting Edinburgh Castle in Scotland a few years ago. Thie book is an excellent resource for someone who wants an overview of the history of this kind of structure. I was surprised that it is a YA book--I think it is good for all ages...and if, in fact, it was intended for children, the black and white drawings and photos were not very exciting.

The author delves into the following topics in five chapters: how ancient forts and siege inspired medieval builders, the development of medieval castles, planning and building the outer defenses of the castles, a castle's inner living spaces, and castles under siege and in ruins.

The book begins with a two-page timeline containing the important dates in the building of medieval castles, covering a period of thousands of years.

I especially enjoyed the section about life in a castle and how the residents lived and worked there....very interesting.

This is a great start for someone who wants to learn about castles without getting bogged down in some esoteric, dry book.

THE MEDIEVAL CASTLES is only about 80 pages and includes illustrations of castles from ancient to medieval times and then closes with reasons for why such structures became obsolete.

Contents include: (1) How castles came about and why; (2) ancient influenes on medieval castles; (3) how they developed and why during the medieval period (includes medieval leaders who were behind this such as William the Conqueror, etc.); (4) feudalism and how it came about and why; (5) the Crusades and how middle eastern influences, (6) particular tool diagrams to build castles; (7) particular diagrams of siege weaponry used on castles; (8) living in a medieval castle; why is was more comfortable than Historians originally believed; and (9) the demise of the castle.

Overall, a great and quick read!