Castles

Castles first appeared in Europe about 1,000 years ago. They were built
by powerful nobles (lords, princes, dukes, etc.) who wanted to control their
lands. Castles helped the nobles gain this control by serving as
both offensive and defensivestructures. Offensively, castles provided a base
from which to launch raids. Defensively, they provided protection from
enemies. Nobles continued to use castles until the 16th century. Then, with
the invention of gunpowder, cannon fire eventually became strong enough to
break through castle walls. After more than 600 years, the age of castles
came to an end.