Castles
What was a castle used for?
Defence and living space
Who was at the top of the feudal system?
The King
What religion was dominant in medieval Europe?
Christianity
What was a common punishment for stealing in medieval times?
Fines, whipping, or stocks (pillory)
Why was torture sometimes used in medieval times?
To force confessions or punish
What is a moat?
A ditch filled with water around a castle
What did knights provide to the king or lord?
Military service
Who led the Catholic Church?
The Pope
What were the stocks (pillory) used for?
Public punishment and humiliation
Which device was used to tighten and crush a person’s fingers?
Thumbscrews
What was the keep?
The strongest part of the castle where people could retreat
What did peasants/serfs provide?
Labour and farming
What was a monastery?
A place where monks lived and worked
What was the purpose of public punishments?
To shame and deter others
Which torture device stretched a person’s body?
The rack
Why were castles built on hills or high ground?
To make them easier to defend
What is feudalism?
A system based on land, loyalty and service
Why did people fear going against the Church?
Fear of punishment or eternal damnation
What was trial by ordeal?
A test (e.g. fire or water) to determine guilt
Why might confessions gained through torture be unreliable?
People may say anything to stop the pain
Explain one way castles changed over time
From wood (motte and bailey) to stone for stronger defence, to concentric (circular)
What is the land given by a lord to a vassal called?
Fief
What is the code of conduct followed by knights?
Chivalry
Explain how trial by ordeal was used to decide if someone was guilty
People were tested (e.g. fire or water) and their survival or healing showed guilt or innocence
Example: holding hot iron; if wounds healed → innocent, if not → guilty
What year was Joan of Arc executed after trial and interrogation? (closest to the date)
1431