What is a castle?
What
is a castle?
A castle was one huge building or two towers that were connected. The
moats and guards would keep unwanted people out of the castle. The bricks make it strong
and nearly indestructible. These were built hundreds of years ago. It seems today mansions
have taken their place.
What did castles provide?
Castles provided shelter and a home for the royals and their servants. When there was a castle near a village, it provided protection for that village. By being built between two countries, it kept the other country from invading.
What is inside of a castle?
A castle
consisted of many things. First of all, the royals had places to stay. They had a place
for servants to live also. There was a palace, chapel, and
cookhouse. There were stables, cowsheds, and a piggery. There also was a dungeon where
those who were bad had to stay. Workers like blacksmiths and carpenters also had a place
to stay. There was a bakery and brew house along with a storehouse. Finally, an incredibly
important feature was the Great Hall. This is where most of the important business of the
castle was conducted. Certain castles had individual bedrooms for the royals. Some had
kitchens and a dining room where they ate. They didn't use the Great Hall for eatting.
Most, but not all, castles had moats. Some even had alligators in them!
What are characteristics of a castle?
Castles were mostly made of stone and were enormous in size. They were cold and drafty, damp and dirty, but people inside were safe. In winter it was cold and in summer it was hot. Most castles had walls twenty feet thick, eighty feet tall, and some even seven thousand feet long! As you can tell, castles weren't the most comfortable places to live, but they were very safe.
What is the Great Hall?
The
Great Hall was a huge multipurpose room. There was a huge hearth and a high ceiling. A
fire was almost always lit. The most important things were done in that room. There was a
long table where most people ate. In Arthur's castle though, the nights ate at the round
table. Business between different countries took place there too. 
"Should
we attack them or not?" was one common question resolved in that room. The
royals enjoyed parties in this room also.
