KS3 medieval castles - such as windsor and balmoral castles

History Quiz - Medieval Castles 02 (Questions)

Medieval castles developed over time, from simple wooden forts to huge stone strongholds that helped kings and lords control land, protect people, and show off their power.

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Fascinating Fact:

Stone keeps replaced wooden towers because stone was stronger, did not burn easily, and impressed local people with its size and strength.

In KS3 History, medieval castles are studied as powerful symbols and military bases. Pupils explore how designs changed from motte-and-bailey forts to complex stone castles with high walls, towers, and gatehouses that controlled trade routes and local people.

Key Terms

Keep: The main strong building inside a castle, often used for defence, storage, and living space.
Curtain wall: A high, thick wall that surrounds the castle to protect the buildings inside.
Siege: A military attack where an army surrounds a castle to cut off supplies and force it to surrender.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What was the main purpose of a medieval castle?

Medieval castles were built to defend important places, control surrounding land, and show the power of a king or lord. They also acted as homes, prisons, and centres of local government.

How did castle design change after the Norman Conquest?

After the Norman Conquest, many wooden motte-and-bailey castles were replaced or strengthened with stone. New features, such as stone keeps, curtain walls, and stronger gatehouses, made them harder to attack.

How do historians learn about life in medieval castles?

Historians study castle ruins, written records, objects found in excavations, and drawings from the time. These sources reveal how castles were built, defended, and used by people who lived there.

Try These Related Quizzes

During the 12th century what material replaced wood for castle building?

[ ]	Brick
[ ]	Concrete
[ ]	Stone
[ ]	Thatch

What is a castle's stone tower called?

[ ]	Crow's Nest
[ ]	Keep
[ ]	Lookout
[ ]	Obelisk

Crenellations are found in what part of a castle?

[ ]	Battlements
[ ]	Fireplaces
[ ]	Lavatories
[ ]	Staircases

Soldiers who lived in a castle were the .......

[ ]	Battalion
[ ]	Garrison
[ ]	Legion
[ ]	Spongers

What is a castle moat?

[ ]	A ceremonial hall
[ ]	A deep ditch around the castle
[ ]	A flagpole attached to the keep
[ ]	A storeroom

In the 13th century Edward I built castles where?

[ ]	France
[ ]	Ireland
[ ]	Spain
[ ]	Wales

What type of castles have walls within walls?

[ ]	Centrifugal
[ ]	Concentric
[ ]	Connective
[ ]	Egocentric

Why were the circular staircases often built clockwise?

[ ]	Clockwise stairs made it easier to tell the time
[ ]	It made them easier to defend
[ ]	People got less dizzy going up and down them
[ ]	They were easier to build that way

A trebuchet, used to attack castles, was like a giant .......

[ ]	Axe
[ ]	Battering ram
[ ]	Cannon
[ ]	Catapult

10.

Castle defenders could pour boiling oil through holes called what?

[ ]	Lubrications
[ ]	Machicolations
[ ]	Matriculations
[ ]	Percolations

History Quiz - Medieval Castles 02 (Answers)

During the 12th century what material replaced wood for castle building?

[ ]	Brick
[ ]	Concrete
[x]	Stone
[ ]	Thatch

Some of it was quarried and some was recycled from older buildings

What is a castle's stone tower called?

[ ]	Crow's Nest
[x]	Keep
[ ]	Lookout
[ ]	Obelisk

It is the most highly fortified section of a medieval castle

Crenellations are found in what part of a castle?

[x]	Battlements
[ ]	Fireplaces
[ ]	Lavatories
[ ]	Staircases

Crenellations refers to the notches in the battlements

Soldiers who lived in a castle were the .......

[ ]	Battalion
[x]	Garrison
[ ]	Legion
[ ]	Spongers

These could be from the king or queen's troops or the nobleman's own private army

What is a castle moat?

[ ]	A ceremonial hall
[x]	A deep ditch around the castle
[ ]	A flagpole attached to the keep
[ ]	A storeroom

Moats usually contained water as extra defence

In the 13th century Edward I built castles where?

[ ]	France
[ ]	Ireland
[ ]	Spain
[x]	Wales

Edward built them to help him conquer Wales

What type of castles have walls within walls?

[ ]	Centrifugal
[x]	Concentric
[ ]	Connective
[ ]	Egocentric

Dover Castle in Kent is a good example

Why were the circular staircases often built clockwise?

[ ]	Clockwise stairs made it easier to tell the time
[x]	It made them easier to defend
[ ]	People got less dizzy going up and down them
[ ]	They were easier to build that way

Right-handed defenders would have an advantage