Why were castles important to medieval culture?

Answer 1

Generally they had two primary functions:

1. They were used as defensive fortified structures in times of war. The medieval ages were a time of weapons far more crude than the ones used in modern warfare, so a high stone wall and thick gate would sometimes make the difference between life or death for a king or his vassals. They were by no means impenetrable, and castles were won and lost all throughout medieval history, sometimes even surrendered without an actual battle taking place. But they helped give a possibly outnumbered army a fighting chance against a larger army, and a strong castle was sometimes enough to deter a weaker force. In times of war they also sometimes provided sanctuary to peasants from the nearby countryside that would otherwise have been slaughtered by invading armies. They often included several defensive tactics and technologies depending on the size and design of the castle, and the competition between building a better castle and building better castle-destroying siege weapons was one of the main arms races of the age (along with better armor vs better swords or arrows, etc). For these reasons many castles were built in highly strategic locations, both geographically in areas they could provide a measure of control over important territories or logistics routes and physically in places where nature added some sort of extra measure of defense (a large river or cliff edge, for example).

2. Other than that, some castles served as lavish homes for royalty or their vassals (important noblemen who served the king). Some castles contained Keeps that could serve as palaces for royalty or homes for other nobility. In this sense a castle could be given as a great reward to important vassals for their loyalty or some great service. Some kings built bigger and more luxurious castles as testaments to their wealth and power.

Some castles were designed to be both important military fortresses and lavish homes, while others may have been built with a greater focus on one function or the other. Either way most castles probably ended up serving as both at one point or another.

Answer 2

Castles in the Middle Ages were very important. For one, they represented the might of the elite. Castles also housed kings, queens, and royals that all claimed divinity from God. For the commoner, these structures were the equivalent of lavish and elegant homes that were far removed from the otherwise dark and barren environment.

Answer 3

They were important because they offered protection from enemies. The castle walls protected the village and the castle itself protected the royal family. Also, lords created their own local laws and boundaries and often had to defend themselves from their neighbours. They built castles so they could bring in the local peasants and livestock to protect them during attack

Answer 4

castles were needed during the medieval times for self defence and for power also for the rolity to show off to the other people saying "im better then you" lol

Answer 5

because they use them to protect the caste and stuff like that! go study don't use the internet for this sh*t

Answer 6

so they could defend them self's from there ememies