Why do castles have tall towers?
Why do castles have tall towers? The Romans discovered that walled fortresses were more easily defended if towers were built into the defensive walls. These towers made it easy to give covering fire for the walls.
What is the purpose of a tower on a castle?
The tower is a circular or square building, which was used as a lookout and for defence. The central tower in a motte and bailey castle was known as the keep. The height of the keep depends on how big the castle is, or how wealthy its owner is!
Why do castles have round towers?
Round towers, also called drum towers, are more resistant to siege technology such as sappers and projectiles than square towers. The round front is more resistant than the straight side of a square tower, just as a load-bearing arch. This principle was already understood in antiquity.
Why do castles have so many towers?
Uses of a Castle Tower Large towers were used as a keep or bergfried and were usually the strongest point of a castle. Towers were usually built around the gate, a vulnerable point in a castle.
Why does no one build castles anymore?
After the 16th century, castles declined as a mode of defense, mostly because of the invention and improvement of heavy cannons and mortars. This artillery could throw heavy cannonballs with so much force that even strong curtain walls could not hold up.
Why do castles have secret rooms?
These were often used as a means of escape or as a way to move around the castle undetected. The secret passages could be used as an escape route in case of a siege or an invasion, or as a way to move around the castle without being seen by enemies.
Who could own a castle?
This brings us to the question of who owned the castles? The castles can generally be split into several categories, royal and baronial either being built and owned by the king or built by a baron with or sometimes without the permission of the king.