Medieval Castles

By Marilyn Stokstad

The castle was far more than a walled and turreted fortress; it was an instrument of social control and the symbol of power, authority, and wealth. Acknowledged expert Marilyn Stokstad combines interpretive essays and original documents in English translation in order to examine the role of the castle in society as well as its use in war.

Commencing with an overview of the military and social systems operating in the Middle Ages, Stokstad places castles and other fortified places into an appropriate context. Readers are then guided through the development of early motte and bailey castles and the development of masonry towers and walls in the 11th and 12th centuries. Medieval Castles considers the military aspect of castles, including seige warfare and the architectural response to attack and defence, in the 12th and 13th centuries. It explores castles and citadels as local and regional government and economic centers in the 14th and 15th centuries. It also looks at the symbolic role of architecture and at castles as elite residences and settings for public display. A concluding interpretive essay looks at the impact of gunpowder on castles as well as our continuing fascination with the castle as a romantic fantasy of an idealized world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0313325251
• ISBN13: 9780313325250
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Greenwood
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Blends thirty illustrations with twenty brief biographies of rulers, builders, and histories of medi

Marilyn Stokstad's Medieval Castles blends thirty illustrations with twenty brief biographies of rulers, builders, and histories of medieval castles, reviewing both military and social systems to consider the construction and popularity of castles and other fortifications of their times. From different castle purposes to the symbolism of architecture, Medieval Castles is a highly recommended addition to Greenwood's 'Guides to Historic Events of the Medieval World' series