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🏰 Attacking and Defending Castles

Trebuchets, battering rams, boiling liquids, and murder holes — learn how armies attacked medieval castles and how castles fought back.

lessons

~15 min

to learn

🏛️ History

subject

Ages 6–12

level

Start the course →

What you’ll learn

Storming the CastleName at least three siege weapons or attack methods used against medieval castles.A siege was when an army surrounded a castle and tried to break in. Attackers used siege weapons: the trebuchet flung heavy stones over the walls, the battering ram smashed the gate, siege towers rolled soldiers up to the walls, and ladders were used for climbing. Sometimes attackers simply surrounded the castle and waited, cutting off food to starve the defenders out — a siege could last weeks or months.
The Castle Fights BackDescribe at least two ways a castle was designed to resist attack.Castles were cleverly built to defend. Narrow arrow slits let defenders shoot out while staying safe behind stone. Murder holes above the gate let them drop rocks or pour liquids on attackers. A moat kept enemies away from the walls, a drawbridge could seal the entrance, and thick, tall walls made climbing in very hard. Defenders on the high battlements could pour boiling water or heated sand on anyone climbing below.
Attack or Defend?Tell the difference between attacking weapons and castle defences, and explain how a siege ended.In a siege, some tools were for attacking — trebuchets, battering rams, and siege towers — while others were built to defend, like moats, arrow slits, murder holes, and drawbridges. Sieges ended when attackers broke through, when hungry defenders surrendered, when a rescuing army arrived, or when attackers simply gave up. A strong, well-stocked castle could hold out for a very long time.

Questions this course answers

What is it called when an army surrounds a castle and tries to break in?

A siege is when an army surrounds a castle and tries to force its way in.

What did a trebuchet do?

A trebuchet was a giant sling on a frame that hurled heavy stones high over the castle walls.

What were arrow slits used for?

Arrow slits were narrow gaps in the wall that let defenders shoot arrows out while staying protected behind the stone.

Why did many castles have a moat?

A moat was a deep ditch, often full of water, that stopped attackers digging under the walls or rolling siege towers close.

What were murder holes?

Murder holes were openings in the ceiling above the gate where defenders dropped rocks or poured liquids onto attackers below.

Which of these was a way to defend a castle WITHOUT any weapons?

Raising the drawbridge sealed off the entrance — a defence, while the other three are attacking tools.

Grounded in trusted sources

English Heritage
British Museum
Britannica Kids
BBC Bitesize
Historic Royal Palaces

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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