Architecture: Castles

  • Resources:


    Content Questions: 

    Answer these questions based on your reading and research. The numbers and letters in the brackets after each question will help you identify in which resource the answer can be found.


    When were the middle ages? [AC1]

    What kinds of weapons are shown in the tapestry? [AC2]

    What kinds of transportation were used in the battle shown? [AC2]

    Name and describe three (3) defensive parts of castles used for defensive purposes. [AC3/AC4]

    Name and describe three (3) parts of castles used for offensive (attack) purposes. [AC3/AC4]

    Who brought castles to Britain and used them to control his territory? [AC4] 

    Describe the hierarchy (people's ranks) inside the castle. [AC5]

    How clean were the insides of castles? [AC5]

    Describe how toilets (garderobes) were situated in a castle. [AC5]

    What was a major vulnerability of early wooden castles? [AC4] 

    Why were many castles designed with walls that sloped away at the base? [AC6]

    What food supplies would a castle keep at hand so that castle defenders could hunker down and try to wait out their attackers? [AC6]

    What made trebuchets a weapon of choice during the Middle Ages? [AC7]

    Identify and describe five offensive weapons used in a siege against a castle. [AC7]




    Guiding Questions: 

    Answer these questions based on your reading and research. Identify a possible "turning point" (transformational event/key idea/invention that changed the course of history) and fully answer the questions below. Write your items in the blank row directly below each question.


    What was the innovation? ("key idea", "turning point", "transformational event")

    Who was involved?

    When was the time period?

    Where did this innovation occur?

    What was life like before the innovation (you may have to infer this)?

    *Can you identify a specific cause for this innovation? (bonus question)

    How did life or culture change after the innovation?

    Why could this be considered a turning point (go back to your definition of Turning Point)?