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Circle Period #: 7A / 7B
Castles and Knights Homework
Introduction
The Middle Ages were a dangerous time in Europe. The continent was divided between many different rulers
and often these rulers were at war with each other. Lords and Kings build castles to defend their lands and hired
knights to kill their enemies.
Part 1: Castles
Castles were built during the Middle Ages as fortified homes for kings and nobility.
Why did they build Castles?
During the Middle Ages much of Europe was divided up between lords and princes. They would rule the local
land and all the people who lived there. In order to defend themselves, they built their homes as large castles in
the center of the land they ruled. They could defend from attacks as well as prepare to launch attacks of their
own from their castles.
Originally castles were made of wood and timber. Later they were replaced with stone to make them stronger.
Castles were often built at the top of hills or where they could use some natural features of the land to help with
their defense. After the Middle Ages castles weren't built as much, especially as larger artillery and cannon were
designed that could easily knock down their walls.
Castle Features
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Although castle design varied widely throughout Europe, there were some similar features that many
castles incorporated:
Moat - A moat was a defensive ditch dug around the castle. It could be filled with water and there was
typically a drawbridge across it to get to the castle gate.
Keep - The keep was a large tower and the last place of defense in a castle.
Curtain Wall - The wall around the castle which had a walkway on it from which defenders could fire
arrows down onto attackers.
Arrow Slits - These were slits cut into the walls that allowed archers to shoot arrows at attackers, but
remain safe from return fire.
Gatehouse - The gatehouse was built at the gate to help reinforce the castle defenses at its weakest point.
Battlements - Battlements were at the tops of castle walls. Generally they were cut out from walls
allowing defenders to attack while still being protected by the wall.
Famous Castles
 Windsor Castle - William the Conqueror built this castle after he became ruler of England. Today it is
still the primary residence of English royalty.
 Tower of London - Was built in 1066. The large White Tower was started in 1078 by William the
Conqueror. Over time the tower has served as a prison, treasury, armory, and royal palace.
 Leeds Castle - Built in 1119, this castle later became the residence of King Edward I.
 Chateau Gaillard - Castle built in France by Richard the Lionheart.
 Cite de Carcassonne - Famous castle in France started by the Romans.
 Spis Castle - Located in Eastern Slovakia, this is one of the largest Medieval castles in Europe.
 Hohensalzburg Castle - Sitting on top of a hill in Austria, it was originally built in 1077, but was greatly
expanded in the late 15th century.
 Malbork Castle - Built in Poland in 1274 by the Teutonic Knights, this is the largest castle in the world
by surface area.
Fun Facts about Castles
 Originally towers were built with square tops, but later were replaced by round towers that offered better
defense and visibility.
 Many castles kept their ale in a room called the buttery.
 Siege engines were used to attack castles. They included the battering ram, catapult, siege towers, and
the ballista.
 Often times attacking armies would wait outside and try to starve out the castle dwellers rather than
attack them. This is called a siege. Many castles were built on a spring so they would have water during
a siege.
 The steward managed all the affairs of the castle.
 Cats and dogs were kept in castles to help kill rats and keep them from eating the grain stores.
Section 2: Becoming a Medieval Knight
There were two ways that a man could become a knight during the Middle Ages. The first was earning the right
on the battlefield. If a soldier fought particularly bravely during a battle or war, he may be awarded knighthood
by the king, a lord, or even another knight. The second way was to become an apprentice to a knight and earn the
title through hard work and training.
Who could become a knight?
No doubt many young men growing up in the Middle Ages dreamed of becoming a knight, but only a few could
afford to become knights. The first requirement of a knight was someone who could afford a knight's weapons,
armor, and war horse. These items weren't cheap and only the very rich could pay for them. Knights were also
people from the noble or aristocratic classes.
Page
When a boy, or more likely his parents, decided that he wanted to become a knight, he would go to live in the
household of a knight when he was seven years old. There he would serve the knight as a page. As a young page
he basically was a servant for the knight, performing tasks such as serving meals, cleaning his clothes, and
carrying messages. While working for the knight's household, the page learned the proper way to behave and
good manners.
The page also began to train to fight. He would practice with other pages using wooden shields and swords. He
also would start to learn how to ride a horse using no hands and carrying a lance.
Squire
Around the age of fifteen, the page would become a squire. As a squire, the young man would have a new set of
tasks. He would take care of the knight's horses, clean his armor and weapons, and accompany the knight to the
battlefield.
Squires had to be ready to fight. They trained with real weapons and were taught fighting skills by the knight.
They had to be in good shape and strong. Squires continued to practice their horsemanship, perfecting their skills
at jousting and fighting from the saddle. Most future knights worked as a squire for five or six years.
Dubbing Ceremony
If a squire had proven his bravery and skill at battle, he would become a knight at the age of twenty-one. He
gained the title of knight at a "dubbing" ceremony. At this ceremony he would kneel before another knight, lord,
or king who would then tap the squire on the shoulder with his sword making him a knight.
At the ceremony, the new knight would take an oath to honor and protect his king and the church. He would be
presented with a pair of riding spurs and a sword.
Interesting Facts about Becoming a Knight
 Squires often learned about castle and siege warfare from their knight. They would need to know how to
defend their own castle as well as how to attack an enemy's castle.
 The word "squire" comes from a French word meaning "shield-bearer."
 Wealthy knights would have had several pages and squires to assist them.
 Squires would practice jousting using a wooden dummy called a quintain.
 Not all squires were made knights through an elaborate ceremony. Some were awarded knighthood on
the battlefield.
 Before the dubbing ceremony to become a knight, squires were required to spend the night alone in
prayer.
Questions
1) Why were castles built?
2) Describe and explain at least 3 features that made castles strong.
3) Who were knights? Write at least 3 sentences.
4) With all of the these castles and knights, do you think Medieval Europe was a safe place, or a dangerous
place? Explain in at least 4 sentences.