Conquering with Castles: Understanding William the Conqueror's Motte and Bailey

Conquering with Castles: Understanding William the Conqueror's Motte and Bailey

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand why William the Conqueror built castles, recognize the different types of castles, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Types of Castles

Motte and Bailey castles were the earliest and most common type of castles built by William the Conqueror.

Motte and Bailey Castle

A Motte and Bailey castle consisted of a wooden tower (Motte) on a raised earth mound, with a courtyard (Bailey) enclosed by a wooden fence or palisade.

Purpose of Castles

William built castles to establish control over England, defend against rebellions, and protect his interests.

Castle Defenses

Castles had defensive features such as moats, battlements, and arrow loops to repel attackers and provide safety for the inhabitants.

Effectiveness of Castles

Castles were effective in consolidating power, controlling territory, and intimidating the local population.

Legacy of Castles

The legacy of William's castles can be seen in the numerous fortifications that still dot the English landscape today.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.