Castles

Castles

Castles

When castles
were
built hundreds of years
ago,
they had two
basic
purposes. First,
they provided shelter and living
space
for those within.
Second, and more importantly, they were
designed
to
keep people
out, to refuse entry to a group of
people
—
the enemy.
Today, churches, stores, and houses
usually have locks on
the doors
to
keep people from entering
at
certain times. But
a lock on the door would not have
stopped
an army from invading
a
castle. For similar reasons,
protecting those who lived within one of these buildings took
precedence over all other housing requirements. By sur-
rounding themselves with strong walls, people inside the
cas-
tle felt safe and were free
to do as
they wished without fear.
They had created
a
stronghold that was much better than a
locked door. Safety was very important, and comfort in the
earliest castles was a minor consideration.

Beth Smith