What invention made the castle obsolete?

gunpowder
Castles were great defences against the enemy. However, when gunpowder was invented the castles stopped being an effective form of defence. By the end of the 1300s gunpowder was widely in use.

What was a disadvantage of concentric castles?

While considered strong, concentric castles did have two major weaknesses: They were incredibly expensive to build and they made it hard for troops to engage from a safe position.

When were castles made obsolete?

Until the 12th century, stone-built and earth and timber castles were contemporary, but by the late 12th century the number of castles being built went into decline.

Why did motte and Bailey castles stopped being built?

The major weakness of the motte and bailey castle was the likelihood of the keep rotting or burning down. The solution was to build stone keeps but these could not always be built on the same site since the weight of the stone would sink into the motte.

Why were concentric castles built?

The first in western Europe to be built to a concentric design. Having many walls meant that even if an enemy broke through the outer wall, there was, in effect, a second castle securely defended and stored with provisions.

What were concentric castles made out of?

Concentric castles had two or more surrounding walls around the central tower and were made of stone. The word ‘concentric’ means to ‘have a common center,’ such as a circle within another circle. So a concentric castle was like a castle within a castle. This made it very difficult for invaders to get inside.

Why did stone castles replace Motte and Bailey?

The wooden defences of motte and bailey castles were replaced by walls and towers of stone. Stone is more durable and resistant than wood and so it became the preferred building materials for castles. Stone castles were built taller and gave better protection against attack, fire and cold rainy weather.

What kind of castle soon replaced Motte and Bailey castles?

Stone Keep Castle
Stone Keep Castle This type of medieval castle soon replaced the Motte and Bailey castles as it offered a better form of defence. A stone keep was the central feature, with thick walls and few windows. Entrance to the keep was by stone steps leading to the first floor.

When was the concentric castle built?

Where were castles built? The Concentric castle was developed in the 12th and 13th centuries and offered the best protection against attack.

What materials are castles made of?

Originally castles were made of wood and timber. Later they were replaced with stone to make them stronger. Castles were often built at the top of hills or where they could use some natural features of the land to help with their defense.

What is the concentric structure of a castle?

The main feature of the concentric castle is its walls. An inner wall built of thick stone with turrets positioned at intervals is then surrounded by an equally thick but lower stone wall. The walls are built at different levels so that archers on the inner walls can fire over the archers on the outer walls.

When was the first concentric castle?

The Byzantine castle of Korykos from the sea c.11th cent. AD. It featured fully concentric features a century before the first examples of concentric fortifications were seen in the West. A concentric castle is a castle with two or more concentric curtain walls, such that the inner wall is higher than the outer and can be defended from it.

How were castles built in the late 1200s?

In the late 1200s to early 1300s, new weapons were created, and so castles had to be built differently. Concentric castles had two or more surrounding walls around the central tower and were made of stone. The word ‘concentric’ means to ‘have a common center,’ such as a circle within another circle.

Why were concentric castles so effective against enemy attacks?

Not only did the multiple layers of thick walls offer increased protection from enemy trebuchets, but the rounded towers of concentric castles were also far more effective at absorbing and deflecting blows from enemy projectiles. As mentioned previously, the simplest description of a concentric castle is that it was ‘a castle within a castle’.