Transcript 6. Why were Motte and Bailey Castles Important?

Why were Motte and Bailey
Castles Important?
1066–1500
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Learning objectives
This presentation covers:
1.
What a motte and bailey castle is.
2.
Why they were built.
3.
What they looked like.
4.
What their advantages and disadvantages were.
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The motte and bailey castle
The Normans built the first proper castles in England.
They needed bases from which to control the countryside,
and strongholds to protect them from Saxon attack.
The castles had to be built in a hurry, so they were
originally built of timber on an earth mound (a motte).
The bailey was the living area for the soldiers.
Remember, William’s troops were an invading force
and not exactly secure in all parts of the country.
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Why castles?
When William invaded England he quickly set about
building castles.
The reason was simple – he knew he had nowhere near
enough men to run England.
So William built castles at important places – hills, rivers,
towns – so that if the English tried to control the country
they’d be forced to attack a castle – a bad move!
Especially as the
English did not have
many castles before the
Normans came along!
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Early castles
Motte –
defensive
mound of
earth
Moat – this
made it harder
to reach the
walls
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Keep – the safest
place in the castle
Bridge –
from the
motte to
the bailey
Drawbridge –
to the
entrance to
the bailey
Palisade – these
were made of
wood and
formed a fence
Bailey – large
walled area where
the soldiers and
animals lived
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Keep
Motte
Bridge
Drawbridge
Moat
Palisade
Bailey
The surrounding area would be cleared of any cover.
This area would be called the killing ground.
It was unlikely that a motte and bailey would be built
near a forest – why do you think this is?
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How much do you remember?
Which do you think are the weakest parts of the castle?
Why?
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Why the motte and bailey?
So why did William build motte and bailey castles? To
answer this question you have to think about William’s
problems – get inside his mind to understand what he
needed.
A stone castle may be better for his
soldiers but will it take time to build?
What is better, a wooden castle that is
quick to build, or a stone castle that
will take years?
What would you do in
William’s position?
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Advantages of the motte and bailey castle
1. The castles were quick to build. A motte and bailey
castle could be up in a few weeks! This was a huge
difference compared to the years it would take to build a
stone castle.
2. They protected the soldiers that William used to
control the country and were easy to defend. Small
numbers of Norman soldiers could hold off rebellions or
attacks by being in a castle.
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Disadvantages of the motte and bailey castle
1. The biggest weakness was the
material they were made of – wood.
Like the story of the Three Little Pigs,
wooden buildings can be burnt down by
fire. They can also be affected by rot.
2. Because the castles were not built to last, they were
only a temporary solution.
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Motte and bailey: multiple-choice questions
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