Life in a Castle PDF

Life in a Castle drawbridge why people built castles and what it was like to live in one? Castle Fortress :¥s why They were designed to be fortresses. Kings and some nobles built castles to defend themselves and their estates against attacks. awhere how The forts were usually built on high...

Life in a Castle drawbridge why people built castles and what it was like to live in one? Castle Fortress :¥s why They were designed to be fortresses. Kings and some nobles built castles to defend themselves and their estates against attacks. awhere how The forts were usually built on high ground —> so the defenders could look down on the attacking enemy People used wood to build forts with wooden fences around them, they were surrounding by a big ditch, called a moat, that was often filled with water wooden castles were easy to build, but they provided a little protection against flaming arrows ÷¥*i÷¥¥Éf Kings and nobles realized that they needed to build castles out of stone to get any real protection from invaders. By the year 1000, many stones castles were being built in different parts of Europe. i€- a hilltop was easier to defend - soldiers could see their enemies coming hilltops location castle construction Do for spotting approaching enemies - the enemies had to march up the hill, while soldiers in the castle used weapons against them from above high watchtowers for defend water-filled moat structures of a castle tall stone walls for defend - on top of them there were usually walkways for soldiers to shoot arrows or dump builders and hot oil down on enemies drawbridge for passing - can be lowered or raised to create or remove a roadway over the moat underground tunnels for moving soldiers between different parts of the castle IF for helping people hold out for a long time against the enemy - within the castle walls was a central tower keep I 2s workshops :-. vocabulary well = a hole dug deep into the ground to get water £0 structures of a castle a large oven %s¥@sÉ¥% stables , kitchen ☐ well storeroom Life in a Castle Castles were very expensive to build, but they were not very comfortable to live in. These castles were cold, drafty, and smelly! Many people lived in a castle, but few of them had their own rooms. Most people lived and ate in the Great Hall, the largest room in the castle. In early castles the king, or noble, and his family might have had beds in the corner of the hall. Everyone else slept on the floor, often piling any clothes they happened to have under and over themselves for warmth. ' ÷÷÷.?a%% :* vocabulary drafty = having currents of air The Great Hall was also used for meals. Only very important people would probably have had chairs to sit in, and everyone else would have sat on long benches alongside tables. After everyone had eaten, the tables were put aside to provide room to sleep. Some early halls didn’t even have fireplaces. An open fire was built in a stone hearth in the center of the room. It was more like camping than luxury living. ' ÷÷÷.?a%% :* vocabulary luxury = something very nice but not necessary It was hard to keep these castles clean. There were no flush toilets, just closets built into the edges of walls. waste fell into pits or moats along the outsides of the castle. The most privileged people occasionally took baths and washed their hands, but others didn’t have many chances to wash. Over time, castles did became more comfortable, especially for the kings and nobles who lived in them. fireplaces were added, more people had beds and their own bedrooms. Cold stone walls were hung with tapestries The Great Hall was sill a center of activity. Musical performers, storytellers, and jugglers entertained people while they ate dinner. i. s#%EFoma .&. vocabulary tapestry = a handwoven wall hanging that may depict people or a scene Days of a Knight Knights were highly trained soldiers who served a particular noble, or lord, as well as the king. They defended land, castles, and people. Many brave and successful knights gained land and power. Over time, stories about knights, good and bad, became the subject of many songs of the Middle Ages. Every knight needed a suit of armor to protect himself in battle. The armor was made of metal plates shaped to fit his body. They were tied together with leather straps so he could move easily. The knight would pust on his helmet last, because during battle it got hot and sweaty inside. Most knights were the sons of noblemen. Thy began training to become knights when they were still very young. When a lord’s son was 7 or 8 years old, he was sent away from his home to live with a relative or overlord (the person who had granted his father a fief). The training took many years first stage 2€67 the young boy served as a pageboy a page boy had to wait on tables and learn the proper manners of a nobleman practiced their horseriding skills and used fake swords to practice their fighting skills when a page was about 12 years old, he would become a squire second stage ¥-14 a squire a personal servant to a particular knight FIE went everywhere with the knight clean the knight’s armor and weapons cared for his horse helped the knight get into his heavy armor spur = a sharp pointed object on the heel of a rider’s boot which is used to encourage a horse to go faster Final stage Figs Depending on his rank, the squire might be knighted anytime between the ages of 16 and 20. Sometimes a young man who was a member of the highest level of the nobility was knighted at an earlier age. Stayed all night, praying he would be a worthy knight. Then he would be presented with spurs, a sword, a shield, and a helmet. His sponsor, usually the lord who had taken him in as a page would tap him lightly on the shoulder with a sword and dub him Sir. Not all knights were born into noble families. The rank of a knight was one of the few positions of nobility that a commoner could hope to get. Since nobles were usually desperate for brave fighting men, a soldier who showed bravery in battle would occasionally be knighted as a reward. During the Middle Ages, women could not be granted the title of knight. It was reserved for men only. However, there were many chivalric orders of knighthood that admitted women and female warriors. Knights had to stay in shape to face the challenges of battle. During the peacetime, knights held tournaments. A tournament would often attract knights and guests from surrounding castles. i. t#g;E.:msa.;:. vocabulary tournament = a series of contests among more than two competitors competing for an overall prize chivalric = having to do chivalry chivalry = a system of beliefs and honorable behavior that knights were expected to follow jousting = a tournament in which two opponents on horseback fight with lances The goal of the competition was to use a lance to knock the opposing knight off his horse. This was called jousting. Nobles and serfs sometimes would bet money on their favorite knight to win the competition. From time to time, knights became a problem for their lords. After all, they were armed men who were trained to settle arguments violently with their swords. Sometimes the lords felt threatened by their own knight. To control the knights and their potentially dangerous behavior, lords created a set of rules that knights should follow. These rules were called the Code of Chivalry. c generous, courteous, loyal, and honorable