The Medieval Castle

by Warner, Philip

• ISBN13: 9780141390703
• ISBN10: 0141390700
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-12-31
• Publisher: Penguin Books

Summary

The influence of the castle, both on the course of history and on the lives of the people who lived in them, has never been fully explored-until now. This fascinating book examines the evolution of the medieval castle, from the rigid social structure of its society to the types of weapons, training, and tactics employed during wartime. Above all, The Medieval Castleis a book about the daily life-from clothes and food to recreation and customs-and the people who made their homes inside a military fortress.

Author Biography

Philip Warner was, for many years, senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England. He is the author of a number of books including Sieges of the Middle Ages.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	vii
Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(4)
Why Castles were Evolved	5	(10)
The Precursors of the Castle	15	(14)
The Motte and Bailey Castle	29	(18)
The Weapons of Attack and Defence	47	(24)
A Castle at War	71	(21)
Training and Recreation: the Foods they ate	92	(22)
The Crusaders and their Castles	114	(20)
Thirteenth-century Castles and the Factors which influenced their Design	134	(32)
The People of Europe	166	(21)
Living in Castles	187	(31)
The Castle at Bay	218	(7)
The Mind of the Fighting Man	225	(5)
Conclusion: The Castle in Decline	230	(7)
Appendices	237	(18)
A Cloth	237	(1)
B Giraldus Cambrensis	238	(2)
C Castle Officials	240	(2)
D Armour	242	(6)
E Artillery	248	(1)
F Appearance and Clothing	249	(4)
G Recreation and the Medieval Mind	253	(2)
Glossary	255	(2)
Select Bibliography	257	(2)
Index	259