Name:_______________________________ Page:_____________
Medieval Mini
Castle Project
Throughout Medieval history, two distant civilizations, Europe and Japan, developed similar social and
political systems. One distinct similarity is their use of castles as the center of feudal life. To
understand the importance of castles and the feudal systems of Europe and Japan, you are going to
research, design, and create a castle from one of these two civilizations.
General Instructions: Before you build your castle, you are going to research both Japanese and
European castles. Answer the questions below. All underlined questions must be answered in
complete sentences.
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Japanese Castles
Instructions- Use the Following sources to answer the questions below. When you find
information within one of the sources, write the letter of the source next to the question
to show that you got it from there. The links to these sources are on your class website.
A. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2296.html
B. http://www.gojapango.com/travel/japanese_castles_architecture.html
C. http://medievalcastles.stormthecastle.com/medieval-castles-of-japan.htm
_____ 1. Name one famous Japanese castle that still exists today.
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_____ 2. Japanese castles served many purposes. Research and describe two main
purposes of a Japanese castle.
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_____ 3. What types of materials were used to build a Japanese castle?
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_____ 4. Where would a Japanese castle typically be located geographically?
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_____ 5. Japanese castles were very beautifully decorated and artistic in many ways.
Describe two decorative aspects of a Japanese castle (Gardens, inside of keep,
etc.)
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_____ 6. There are 5 main parts to a Japanese castle. describe each part.
A. Castle Tower/Tenshukaku_____________________________________________________________________
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B. Walls and Moats______________________________________________________________________________
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C. Guard Towers/Yagura________________________________________________________________________
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D. Gates_________________________________________________________________________________________
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E. Palace/Goten- ________________________________________________________________________________
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_____ 7. (Bonus Question – you don’t have to do this)
Japanese Castles had layers of
walls that protected different courtyards and buildings within the compound. The
Honmaru is the innermost courtyard of the castle compound where the Daimyo
would stay in times of war. Describe what is inside the Honmaru.
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_____ 8. Draw a picture of a Tenshukaku/Tenshu (the main tower of a Japanese castle
compound) using a picture from one of the sources. Also, draw a diagram of a
Diagram of Compound
castle compound’s layout, labeling all the different parts.
Use the picture on
your class website.
Tenshukaku/Tenshu
EUROPEAN CASTLES
Instructions- Use the following sources to answer the questions below.
When you find information within one of the sources, write the letter of the
source next to the question to show that you got it from there. The links to
these sources are on your class website.
A. http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/castles.html
B. http://medievalcastles.stormthecastle.com/essays/the-types-of-castles.htm
C.
http://www.medieval-castles.net/castle_architecture/index.htm
D. http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle_history.htm
_____ 1. Name one famous Medieval European castle that still exists today.
__________________
_____ 2. European castles served many purposes. Research and describe
two main purposes of a European castle.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____ 3. What types of materials were used to build a European castle?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____ 4. Where would a European castle typically be located
geographically?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____ 5. There are six main parts to a European castle. Describe each part
A. Gatehouse/Barbican:
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B. Keep/Donjon: ___________________________________________________________
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C. Chapel:
_________________________________________________________________
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D. Great Hall: _____________________________________________________________
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E. Drawbridge:
_____________________________________________________________
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F. Moat: __________________________________________________________________
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_____ 6.
Lords and Ladies typically lived in a room of the castle called a
Solar. Describe what a solar was like in 2-3 sentences.
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_____ 7. The Concentric castle was the most advanced type of Medieval
European castle. Draw a diagram of a concentric castle (A diagram
Diagram of European Castle
of a European castle is on your class website).
COMPARE & Contrast
Instructions: Based upon the research, write down 3 similarities and 3 differences
between each type of castle.
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Similarities
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Differences
Read the following castle rubrics, then answer the question below.
European Castle Rubric
 8 points: Use of Class Time
o Prepared for class each day
o On task from bell to bell
________/20 Points
o
o
Managed and maintained materials throughout the project
If applicable: Collaboration with partners

12 points: Castle (Must fit on a regular-sized desk)
o A castle keep
o Four towers with walls
o At least one additional castle feature based on your research
o Well-written caption for each part of your castle design
o A welcome sign including your names, the name of your castle, the location of your
castle, and a slogan that captures the purpose of your castle
o Elaborate and historically accurate design

Note: There will be a 12 Point DEDUCTION if your castle is bigger than the size of a desk.
Japanese Castle Rubric
________/20 Points
 8 points: Use of Class Time
o Prepared for class each day
o On task from bell to bell
o Managed and maintained materials throughout the project
o If applicable: Collaboration with partners

12 points: Castle (Must fit on a regular-sized desk)
o A castle keep
o Four towers with walls
o At least one additional castle feature based on your research
o Well-written caption for each part of your castle design
o A welcome sign including your names, the name of your castle, the location of your
castle, and a slogan that captures the purpose of your castle
o Elaborate and historically accurate design

Note: There will be a 12 Point DEDUCTION if your castle is bigger than the size of a desk.
Questions:
1. How many total points will your group earn for this project? ____________________________________________
2. For both castles, what FOUR behaviors are you graded for: ______________________________________________
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3. For both castles, what five elements that you will be graded on: _________________________________________
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4. For what will earn you a 12 point deduction? ______________________________________________________________