Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 1
THE CASTLE BUILDER: KEY WORDS WORKSHEET
Using the Castle Builder activity at www.activehistory.co.uk, complete this
worksheet by clicking on the key words on the screen as you build your castle!
Key Word
Moat
Details
They were often the castle's first line of defence against an attacking army.
Lack of water forced castle architects to build dry moats, which would be
filled with spikes and thorny bushes.
Drawbridge
A heavy wooden bridge over a moat. When being attacked it would be
pulled up.
Portcullis
A large wooden gate reeled down for defence when being attacked.
Barbican
a large wooden gate that was lowered through slots in the
gatehouse to defend the entrance to the castle. Made usually from
many pieces of horizontal and vertical oak beams with sharp spikes
at the bottom, the portcullis was strong and very heavy.
'Curtain' wall
the perimeter wall which ran all around the edge of the castle to
provide it with its first real line of defence.
Concentric walls
These walls would get higher towards the centre of the castle to
allow archers to fire down at the attackers.
Merlons and embrasures
Merlons are the protective bits of wall on the battlements. The gaps
through which defenders will fire arrow and throw missiles at
attackers are called embrasures.
Round towers
Round toweres were more expensive but very secure
Square towers
Square towers were easy to build but just as easy to be demolish
Motte
Mound
Bailey
Courtyard
Machicolations
Built of stone they were built jutting out from the curtain wall of the
castle to allow defenders to drop stones and oil onto attackers.
Hoardings
Wooden sheds sticking out the main castle walls. These can be
quickly put in place during an attack, and defenders can fire arrows
and drop stones / oil on attackers from them. However, they are
easily set alight.
Crossbowmen
A heavy arrow would be placed inside. The bow would be then be
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 2
wound back and released, shooting the arrow with great force. They
were very easy to use Anyone could use one. However, the weight
of the arrow meant that it did not travel as far as one loosed from a
longbow.
Longbowmen
longbowmen could shoot up to 5 times more frequently than a
crossbowman. They may have been more expensive, but they were
more efficient. They could also generally fire further, as their arrows
were lighter
Mangonels
is a type of catapult. A large arm, loaded with rocks, would be
attached at right angles to a a shaft of wood. A piece of thick rope
would be wound tighter and tighter around the shaft using winding
wheels. When the shaft was released, it would rapidly spin around
as the rope unwound itself. This would thrown the arm upwards,
releasing the missiles.
Trebuchets
works by tying a massive weight to one end of a beam that is
hinged at its centre. On the other end, the missiles are placed. The
weight is the wound upwards into the sky by a team of men. The
other end of the beam, now at ground level, has a cup which is
loaded with missiles. This is tied down with ropes. When the ropes
are cut, the missiles are launched into the sky.
Oil
Boiling oil can be dropped on the attackers over the sides of castle
walls
Stones
Stones can be dropped on the attackers over the sides of castle walls.
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 3