Life Inside a Medieval Castle!

Summary

Join a virtual tour of a medieval castle in Ireland, dating back to 1140, renowned for its size and preservation. Discover the castle's defenses, including the portcullis, murder holes, and a small 'wicket' door. Learn about the castle's history in films like 'Braveheart', and explore its Great Hall, Lord's chambers, and spiral staircases. Engage with quiz questions about medieval castle life, from the portcullis' origin to the castle's unique toilet system and the impact of cannonballs on thick walls.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Kare-Kare Castle dates back to 1140 and is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Ireland.
• 🚪 The small door, known as a 'wicket gate', was designed to make intruders vulnerable and served as a late entry for castle residents.
• 🔍 Above the arched door, a 'murder hole' was present, where substances like boiling water or hot sand could be poured onto enemies.
• 🎥 The castle's main gate, or 'portcullis', is one of the oldest functional castle gates in Ireland and has been featured in films, including 'Braveheart'.
• 🌀 The spiral staircases in medieval castles typically turned clockwise, disadvantaging right-handed attackers and making them nearly defenseless.
• 💩 In medieval times, before the invention of the flush toilet, castles used a 'garderobe' which channeled waste down into the moat.
• 🏹 Archers in the battlements could fire up to twelve arrows per minute, defending the castle from attackers.
• 🍽️ The Great Hall was a place for feasting, with seating and food allocation based on social status, including the exclusive use of salt for royalty.
• 🗝️ The word 'portcullis' comes from the French 'porte colee', meaning 'sliding door', referring to the heavy gate mechanism.
• 🎯 Evidence of a cannonball strike from the 1300s remains in the castle wall, demonstrating the castle's resilience to such attacks.
• 🌿 The castle's preservation is remarkable, with many original features intact, offering a glimpse into medieval life.

Q & A

What is the name of the castle featured in the video?

The castle is referred to as 'Kare-Kare Castle'.

What year was the Kare-Kare Castle built?

The construction of Kare-Kare Castle dates back to the year 1140.

What is the purpose of the small door in the castle, also known as a 'wicket'?

The small door, or 'wicket', forced those who entered to be in a more vulnerable position, making it easier to attack if deemed an enemy. It also served as an entrance for castle residents arriving late after the main gate had been closed.

What substance was commonly poured from the 'murder hole' above the small door?

Contrary to popular belief, boiling oil was rarely used due to its expense. Boiling hot water or red-hot sand was more common, as they were readily available and could penetrate enemy armor.

Which famous film was filmed at the castle, featuring a Scottish warrior?

The famous film is 'Braveheart', starring Mel Gibson.

Why do medieval castles have spiral staircases that turn in a clockwise direction?

Building a spiral staircase in the clockwise direction made it difficult for right-handed people to use their dominant sword hand, rendering them nearly defenseless.

What is the origin of the word 'portcullis'?

The word 'portcullis' originates from the French language, where it translates to 'sliding door'.

How were castles equipped for waste disposal before the invention of the flush toilet?

Castles were built with a 'garderobe', which is essentially a combination of a closet and a restroom, with waste exiting the castle interior down into the moat below.

What evidence of medieval warfare can be seen on the castle walls?

There is an actual cannonball lodged in the side of the castle from the 1300s, showing the impact of medieval warfare.

Which spice was considered a luxury and reserved for those of royal status in the Middle Ages?

Salt was considered a luxury and was only offered to those of royal status and guests of great importance.

How many arrows per minute could a well-trained archer fire during the medieval period?

A well-trained archer could fire as many as twelve arrows per minute, which is one every five seconds.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Exploring Kare-Kare Castle's Medieval Secrets

Join the tour of Kare-Kare Castle in Ireland, dating back to 1146. This well-preserved medieval marvel offers insights into castle defenses, including the purpose of a small door, security mechanisms, and the portcullis. Discover the castle's history, including its use in films like 'Braveheart', and explore the Great Hall and Lord's chambers. Learn about the architectural choices, such as the clockwise spiral staircase, and the castle's preservation over centuries. Quiz questions engage viewers on topics like the language of 'portcullis', the castle's response to a cannonball strike, and the location of medieval toilets.

05:01

🍽️ Dining and Defense in Medieval Times

Delve into the social hierarchy of medieval castles, where dining practices reflected one's status, with Royals enjoying the finest meats and servants receiving leftovers. The importance of spices, particularly salt, is highlighted, being a luxury reserved for the royals. The architectural strength of battlement towers and jail cells are discussed, along with the role of archers in defending the castle. The video concludes with a review of quiz answers, revealing the purpose of the 'wicket gate', the common substances poured from murder holes, the origin of the term 'portcullis', the invention timeline of the flush toilet, and the impact of a cannonball on castle walls. Additionally, the speed of a well-trained archer is revealed, firing up to twelve arrows per minute.

Keywords

💡Medieval Castle

A medieval castle refers to a large fortified structure built during the Middle Ages, primarily for residential and military purposes. In the video, the castle is the central theme, showcasing its architecture, security features, and historical significance. The Kare-Kare Castle is highlighted as one of the largest and best-preserved examples in Ireland, dating back to the year 1140.

💡Portcullis

The portcullis is a heavy, vertically sliding gate made of wood or iron, used to secure the entrance of a castle. Originating from the French term 'porte coulissante' meaning 'sliding door,' it was a crucial defensive mechanism. In the script, the main gate of the castle is called a portcullis, noted for its antiquity and functionality.

💡Murder Hole

A murder hole is a small opening in the ceiling or wall of a castle's entryway, used to pour substances onto attackers or to shoot arrows at them. The term is used in the script to describe the slot above the castle's arched door, where boiling water or hot sand could be poured onto enemies, rather than the commonly misconceived boiling oil.

💡Spiral Staircase

A spiral staircase is a staircase that winds around a central column, either clockwise or counterclockwise. In the video, the staircases in the castle are mentioned to turn in a clockwise direction, which was a strategic choice to hinder right-handed attackers from effectively using their dominant hand to fight.

💡Great Hall

The Great Hall was the central room in a medieval castle where the lord and his court would gather for feasts and other social events. In the script, the Great Hall is described as a place for communal dining, with social status determining the location of one's seat and the quality of food served.

💡Cannon

A cannon is a large, heavy piece of artillery used for firing large projectiles over long distances. The script mentions the invention of the cannon in the 13th century, which was a significant advancement in warfare, capable of causing substantial damage to castle walls, as evidenced by a cannonball lodged in the castle.

💡Battlements

Battlements are the upper part of a castle wall, consisting of alternating high and low sections that provide cover for archers. The term is used in the script to describe the notched parapet wall at the top of the castle, from where archers would defend against attacks.

💡Jail Cells

Jail cells within a castle were used to imprison individuals, often located away from the main living quarters and close to the guards for security. The script mentions passing by jail cells on the way to the battlements, indicating their purpose for holding prisoners.

💡Archer

An archer is a person skilled in the use of a bow and arrow, often serving as a soldier in medieval warfare. The script poses a quiz question about the rate at which a well-trained archer could fire arrows, emphasizing their importance in castle defense.

💡Cannonball

A cannonball is the projectile fired from a cannon. In the context of the video, the impact of a cannonball on a castle wall is discussed, with the script revealing an actual cannonball from the 1300s still embedded in the castle wall, illustrating the power and effectiveness of this weapon.

💡Spice

In the Middle Ages, spices were valuable commodities, often used for flavoring and preservation of food. The script mentions that only those of royal status and important guests were offered salt, a luxury that commoners and servants were without, reflecting the social hierarchy and the significance of spices in medieval life.

Highlights

The tour is in Ireland, exploring one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles dating back to 1147.

Random quiz questions about medieval castles are asked during the tour to engage viewers.

The purpose of the small door, or 'wicket', is to force vulnerability upon entry and serve as a late entrance for residents.

A murder hole above the door was used to pour substances onto enemies, with hot water or sand being more common than boiling oil.

The castle's main gate, or portcullis, is one of the oldest functional gates in Ireland and has been featured in films.

The film 'Braveheart', starring Mel Gibson, was filmed at the castle despite being about a Scottish warrior.

The castle's spiral staircases turn clockwise, making it difficult for right-handed sword users to defend themselves.

The castle's portcullis operates via a simple winch and pulley system, allowing easy raising and lowering of the gate.

In medieval times, the castle's toilet, or 'garderobe', was a closet-restroom combination with waste dropping into the moat.

The castle's round lookout towers provided a 360-degree view for guards and were essential for defense.

Cannons, introduced in the 13th century, could devastate castle walls, but the castle shows a cannonball lodged from the 1300s.

The Great Hall was a place for feasting, with seating and food allocation based on social status.

Salt was a luxury spice in the Middle Ages, reserved only for those of royal status and important guests.

A well-trained archer could fire up to twelve arrows per minute during medieval times.

The castle's battlements, or notched walls, were crucial for archers defending the castle.

The castle's stonework and construction techniques highlight the longevity and resilience of medieval architecture.

The tour concludes with a review of quiz answers, providing educational insights into medieval castle life and defenses.

Transcripts

alright guys here we are in Ireland

we're gonna be taking a walk through

tour of this medieval castle let's check

it out

pronounced kare-kare castle dates back

to the year 11:42 and is one of the

largest and best-preserved castles in

ireland as we're doing our walkthrough

tour I'll be asking random quiz

questions to test your knowledge of

medieval castles please feel free to

comment below with your answers as we

make our way through the front gate does

anyone know what the purpose of this

small door was I'll be revealing the

answer to these questions at the end of

the video so here we are in the outer

courtyard

you'll notice that every door we pass

through has some level of security if

you look just above the arched door

we're headed to now you'll see a slot

there just above it can you guess what

substance would be poured down this

opening onto the encroaching enemy

now we're about to pass through the main

gate or portcullis as it's called this

is one of the oldest functional castle

gates in ireland for that reason it has

been used in many films one of those

films is a famous story about a Scottish

warrior though it was filmed here in

Ireland who led his army to defeat the

British and win Scotland their

independence can anyone guess the name

of that film

here we are now in the main courtyard

the gardens ahead of us is the Great

Hall a place where the residents would

gather to feast and on the Left here are

the Lords chambers let's start in there

we visited many medieval sites and

castles on this trip but I must say this

was one of my favorites as you were free

to stray from the tour and explore on

your own as we enter here you'll notice

the spiral staircase turns in a

clockwise direction this was common in

medieval castles does anybody know the

reason why

who these stairs are quite steep so here

we are on the first floor wow this place

is so amazing just take a look around

we're headed to that small door just up

ahead there in the back that will lead

us to the gatekeepers chamber there

we'll be able to view how the portcullis

operates

notice how small all of the doors and

hallways are everything is so well

preserved the castle itself seems almost

untouched for hundreds of years here we

can see the pulley mechanism for the

portcullis down below does anybody know

what language the word portcullis comes

from

this simple winch and pulley system made

it easy to raise and lower the heavy

gate as needed

you

who back up the spiral staircase

all right we've now made our way up to

the second floor as I'm exploring this

castle I realize I haven't seen any

bathrooms yet does anybody know where

the toilet was located in a medieval

castle

up ahead from the window we'll get a

great view of the town of kare-kare is a

small quaint town with a population of

just over 3,500 residents

here we make our way up into one of the

lookout towers

the round towers enabled guards to have

a 360 degree view surrounding the castle

in early medieval times battles were

fought with bow and arrow and catapults

which often launched dead diseased

animals over the castle wall in the 13th

century came the invention of the cannon

which was a much more devastating weapon

though the castle walls were built thick

do you know what would happen if a

cannonball hit the side of a castle did

it a bounce off B embed itself into the

castle wall or C smash a hole through

the wall again I'll be answering these

questions at the end of the video it

just so happens that there's evidence of

a cannonball strike from the 14th

century right in the side of the castle

we'll take a look at that later

now let's make our way back down to

ground level where we can visit the

Great Hall as seen from this upstairs

window the Great Hall is where the

castle residents would gather to feast

everybody would dine in the same room

however at which table you sat and what

food you were served depended greatly on

your status the finest cuts of meats

were saved for the Royals while the

servants were fed the scraps how the

food was seasoned was also dependent on

status can you guess which spice was

saved only for those of royal status

and now we're gonna be making our way up

to one of the Battlement hours these

towers were built to sustain great force

their foundation could be as many as

three meters deep and filled with stones

for added strength and support as we

make our way up we'll come by a couple

of jail cells prisoners were kept here

away from the main residence and close

to the castle guards the term Battlement

describes the notched hath wall that

surrounds the top of the castle it is

from here

the medieval archers would defend the

castle can you guess how many arrows per

minute a well-trained Archer could fire

so now we've made our way full circle

back out to the front of the castle just

look at all the amazing stonework

medieval castles were definitely built

to last

remember construction on this castle

dates back to the Year 1140 - so what do

you guys think could you live here I

know I could as long as I could have my

own modern toilet that would be my only

complaint anyway let's review the answer

to the quiz questions and see how well

you know your medieval castle facts this

small door also known as a wicked gate

or wicked was meant to force those who

enter to be in a more vulnerable

position people could only enter one at

a time and must bow their head leaving

them open to an attack if deemed an

enemy it also served as an entrance for

the castle residents who arrived late

after the main gate had been closed the

opening above this door was often

referred to as a murder hole from which

different substances would be poured

onto the enemy contrary to popular

belief boiling oil was rarely used as

oil was an expensive commodity boiling

hot water or red-hot sand was much more

common due to the fact that both of

these were readily available and free

both water and sand could penetrate the

enemy's armor or chainmail forcing them

to disrobe from their protective gear

although many movies have been filmed on

location here the most famous would be

Braveheart starring Mel Gibson have you

heard of it did you know roughly 90% of

humans are right-handed building a

spiral staircase in the clockwise

direction made it difficult for a

right-handed person to use their

dominant sword hand rendering them

nearly defenseless the iconic front

gates of medieval castles were called

the portcullis which originates from the

french-language

portcullis aunt which translates to

sliding door

the flush toilet was invented in 1596

but didn't become widespread until 1851

instead castles were built with what is

referred to as a guard rope which is

essentially a combination of a closet

and a restroom all in one the waste

would exit the castle interior down into

the moat below it was also believed that

the smell would keep the bugs from

destroying the clothes that were stored

inside suddenly the Middle Ages aren't

sounding so romantic

are they so what do you think could

these castle walls would stand the

impact of a cannonball the answer is yes

just in the center of this photo you

will see an actual cannonball still

lodged in the side of the castle from

the 1300s how cool is that

spices were a very important commodity

in the Middle Ages however none more

than salt only those of royal status and

guests of great importance were offered

such a luxury the mere peasants and

servants were forced to go without a

well-trained Archer could fire as many

as twelve arrows per minute that's one

every five seconds

[Music]

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