Books like Castles (Medieval History) by Sean Sheehan

An exploration of daily life and social customs centered on Chepstow Castle, detailing the roles of its lord, knights, and courtiers in twelfth‑century Britain.

Describes medieval castles and what life was like for the knights who lived in them.

Describes daily life in the castles of Europe from the years 500 to 1500.

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the castles of the Middle Ages and the lives of the people who lived in them. Superb, full-color photographs of castles around the world, plus specially built models, offer a unique and revealing "eyewitness" view of medieval life, from a castle's construction to its destruction in a siege. See a medieval lavatory, a giant crossbow on wheels, how prisoners were kept secure in dungeons, a herald in full regalia, and castles used by Crusaders in Syria and samurai warriors in Japan. Learn how castles got their water during a siege, how besiegers tunneled under castle walls, how the Normans built castles in a hurry, how the first guns worked, why round towers were better than square ones, and what a castellan's job entailed. Discover how enemies climbed castle walls, what was on the menu at a typical banquet, why many castles had resident carpenters and metalworkers, why Crusader castles were so well built, and much, much more.

Describes what life was like in medieval dungeons during the late fifteenth century, as seen through the eyes of the jailer.