![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/01090438/Medieval-Europe-castle-pic1.jpeg)
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02045156/medieval-village.jpeg)
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.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02045557/medieval-castle.jpeg)
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.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02045906/medieval-castle-2.jpg)
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.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02050134/medieval-castle-under-attack-1024x611.jpg)
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.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02050254/medieval-castle-3.jpeg)
Although castle design varied widely throughout Europe, there were some similar features that many castles incorporated:
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02050517/moat.jpg)
There was the 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.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02051226/keep.jpg)
the keep- The keep was a large tower and the last place of defense in a castle.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02051502/curtain-wall.jpg)
The curtain wall- The wall around the castle which had a walkway on it from which defenders could fire arrows down onto attackers.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02052049/castle-4.jpg)
The Arrow Slits – These were slits cut into the walls that allowed archers to shoot arrows at attackers, but remain safe from return fire.
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02052515/gatehouse.jpg)
The Gatehouse – The gatehouse was built at the gate to help reinforce the castle defenses at its weakest point
![Medieval castles in Europe by Niamh McCullagh - Illustrated by Jason Balformio - Ourboox.com](https://ourboox-media-prod.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02053049/castle-5.jpeg)
and the 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
Published: Apr 1, 2020
Latest Revision: Apr 1, 2020
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Very Helpful, 10/10
amazing 🙂