What role did castles play in the Middle Ages?

Castles could serve as a centre for local government, administration and justice. They were also used by powerful lords to display their wealth and power through lavish architectural styles and decoration. Castles were not only built and used by the crown.

Why were castles and forts built in the Middle Ages?

When you think of castles, you probably imagine huge stone fortresses with towers, moats, and drawbridges. Castles were common in Europe during the Middle Ages and were often the homes of royal families or other powerful people. The main purpose of castles was to protect the people who lived there from invasions.

How did monasteries help spread Christianity?

Monasticism became quite popular in the Middle Ages, with religion being the most important force in Europe. Monks and nuns were to live isolated from the world to become closer to God. Monks provided service to the church by copying manuscripts, creating art, educating people, and working as missionaries.

What are the uses of forts?

By the late 19th century, the forts and castles were used mainly as storehouses for guns and gunpowder, and as prisons for very different categories of inmates. At Elmina, for instance, the small tower at the east corner of the castle is known as Prempeh’s Tower.

What role did missionaries play in spreading Christianity?

What’s more, by giving a people education, missionaries not only taught them Christian beliefs, they also gave them tools that they could put to any purpose they wished.

What was the most powerful force that helped spread Christianity?

Most powerful force that helped spread Christianity were missionaries.

Why is fort and castle important?

Criterion (vi): The Castles and Forts of Ghana shaped not only Ghana’s history but that of the world over four centuries as the focus of first the gold trade and then the slave trade. They are a significant and emotive symbol of European-African encounters and of the starting point of the African Diaspora.

What was the purpose of castles in the Middle Ages?

Castles were the homes of wealthy nobles and their families while a majority of the population lived in more modest accommodations. The Middle Ages had a complex system of monarchies and feudal lords consistently warring over territory and resources. Because of this, the purpose of a castle was primarily for protection.

When did the Crusades stop building castles?

After the mid-13th century only few new fortifications were built in the remaining Crusader states. A decisive downturn in Middle Eastern castle building came with the end of the Crusader period on the Levantine mainland in the beginning of the 14th century.

Why are chapels essential in castles?

Chapels are essential in many castles because of limited transportation means. The Middle Ages were an extremely devout time, and the ability to worship from home was convenient and demonstrated to the church their devotion to religion. The strength and durability of medieval castles are evidenced in that they have withstood the test of time.

What happened to Middle Eastern castles?

A decisive downturn in Middle Eastern castle building came with the end of the Crusader period on the Levantine mainland in the beginning of the 14th century. The Mamluks in their effort to prevent the Crusaders from taking a hold on the Levantine coast had razed many of the harbours and their fortifications.