Medieval Castles

The castle was far more than a walled and turreted fortress; it was an instrument of social control and the symbol of power, authority, and wealth. Acknowledged expert Marilyn Stokstad combines interpretive essays and original documents in English translation in order to examine the role of the castle in society as well as its use in war.

Commencing with an overview of the military and social systems operating in the Middle Ages, Stokstad places castles and other fortified places into a…