Castles
A castle is a type of fortified structure that was built during the Middle Ages predominantly by nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars generally regard a castle as the fortified private residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a mansion, palace and village, whose main purpose was exclusively residential. The use of the term has varied over time, and has sometimes also been applied to hill forts and 19th- and 20th-century houses built to resemble castles. During the Middle Ages, when genuine castles were built, they took on many forms with many different features, although some, such as tall stone walls, arches and lever doors, were common.
The topic of the emergence of castles in Europe is a complex subject that has sparked considerable debate. The discussions usually attribute the construction of these fortifications to a reaction to attacks by Magyars, Muslims and Vikings and the need for private defense.