Castles easily outnumber the great Cathedrals of medieval Europe. They have come to signify the oppression of feudal people by an aggressive aristocratic elite. But castles could also defend the state, police the community and administer justice. The role of castles was emphasised by the Crusades where Western powers drew useful, and occasionally painful, lessons from their experiences. Islamic castle design was simply more advanced and often capable of a surprisingly aggressive role in warfare.
Castles today are mostly ruined, their role having declined with the advent of new technology, especially artillery. But Castles played another less obvious part in medieval society – as settings for Chivalric and Courtly life. This course will examine Anglo-Norman castles, the Crusades and their impact, and the grand castles associated with the later Courts of England and France. We will examine the architectural and engineering development of castles both as military machines and living and workspaces.
Sieges, siege engines and other methods evolved to capture these mighty fortresses will be examined through individual examples. The classes will discuss England, 1060-1200, castles of the Crusading period in both the Holy Land and Europe, the Castles associated with Edward I, especially in Wales, sieges and warfare and the Chivalric Castle of the late middle ages.
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