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. Draw a Plan for your own Japanese castle
Compound that includes:
a
Tenshukaku/Tenshu (the main tower ) and four towers, at least one wall and
at least one other feature from the list above:
Label each area and use the
diagram on your teacher’s website as a starting place.
Diagram of a Japanese Castle Compound
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://wonderopolis.org/wonder/where-is-the-biggest-castle-in-the-world/
C.
http://www.castlewales.com/casterms.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. Explain the difference between a castle and a palace:
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_____ 3. European castles served many purposes. Research and describe
two main purposes of a European castle.
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_____ 4. What types of materials were used to build a European castle?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____ 5. Where would a European castle typically be located
geographically?
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_____ 6. 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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_____ 7. Review the list of castle vocab on site C. Name and define at least four terms
that were not on the part list in the question above but would be help provide
defense:
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_____ 8. The Concentric castle was the most advanced type of Medieval
European castle. Draw a diagram of a concentric castle that includes a
keep, four towers, a great hall, walls and one other feature from your research in
question 6 and 7. Label each part of your diagram.(A diagram of a European
Diagram of European Castle
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.
Differences
Similarities
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-
-
-
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Read the following castle rubrics, then answer the question below.
European 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.
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? ______________________________________________________________