Castle Builders
In Mideval Europe castles were the ultimate symbol of dominance. But they also had to serve several different functions; power projection, defense of the realm, and not in the least, a glorious home for the castle's master. These three functions are examined in turn as the history unfolds of how castles evolved over the centuries to a adapt to changing demands.
- 2015-2015
- 1 season
- MagellanTV
- Documentary
In Mideval Europe castles were the ultimate symbol of dominance. But they also had to serve several different functions; power projection, defense of the realm, and not in the least, a glorious home for the castle's master. These three functions are examined in turn as the history unfolds of how castles evolved over the centuries to a adapt to changing demands.
Season 1 Episode Guide
3 Episodes 2015
Episode 1
Masters and Masons
Tue, Apr 14, 2015 48 mins
Meet the Castle Builders - the masons and laborers who did the hard work; the geniuses of design and structural engineering who imagined these medieval mega-structures; and the kings and barons who commissioned them.
Episode 2
Siege and Storm
Tue, Apr 14, 2015 50 mins
Castles may look imposing but simple strong walls were not enough to resist clever, determined attackers. Some of the the additional defenses, such narrow windows and the layered defense of walls within walls, are easily recognized by casual observers. But many other defenses, such as embossed walls, are more subtle. Here is the story of how castles evolved to resist ever more powerful siege engines.
Episode 3
Dreams and Decoration
Tue, Apr 14, 2015 50 mins
For a ruler living in a castle a certain level of opulence was required. And that opulence wasn't just for the ruler's own comfort. He needed to impress, engage and entertain other rulers as well as his own vassals. The opulence reached it's peak in the Loire Valley when the English drove the French from Normandy. There, relieved of the need for fortifications, the castles' opulence transformed into palaces and chateaus of grandeur. Curiously, the castle style returned to vogue during the industrial revolution as some wealthy industrialists built palaces to flaunt their riches.