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Table Of Contents

Introduction..................................................Page 4

Knights......................................................Pages 5-8

Siege warfare.........................................Pages 9-11

Castles...................................................Pages 13-15

Feudalism.............................................Pages 16-17

Vikings..................................................Pages 18-19

The black plague...............................Pages 22-25

In the year 1340 A.D., there was a knight named Sir Edward.

He lived in the northern part of a land called Europe.

Sir Edward wasn't always a knight, though. Before he was a knight, when he was 7, he was a page.

When he was a page, Sir Edward worked for a knight, and learned how to care for horses, follow the code of chivalry, and use weapons. He also spent time excercizing.

At the age of 14, Sir Edward became a squire. His training became more dangerous, and he learned how to care for and ride horses.

When he turned 21, Sir Edward became a knight, and started working for a noble. He now protects the castle and attacks other ones.

Sir Edward is now about to lay siege to a castle. It took weeks to plan the attack and build the weapons. He hopes the siege will be very easy.

Sir Edward has asked the enemy to surrender before they begin the siege, but they did not. So, the attack will begin soon.

The siege has begun! Sir Edward and others have picked up the battering ram and are smashing down the door while a siege tower rolls to the wall.

After the successful siege, Sir Edward goes home were he is honored by the lord and lady of his castle. He is told to strengthen castle defenses.

Sir Edward starts by inspecting the iron portcullis on the castle wall door, made to stop battering rams. He then checks the moat, to stop people from tunneling under walls, and the keep, where people hide during attacks.

After that, he inspects the murder holes, where archers shoot at invaders so they can't be hit. He inspects the armory, where weapons are stored, and last, he inspects the walls. Everything looks perfect.

Once Sir Edward finishes, he stops to think how lucky he is to have such a good castle. Other castles were built out of old roman forts or wood and mud bricks, and are much weaker than the castle his lord and lady live in.

He starts to think of the King and Queen's castle, and how much bigger it is. He also starts thinking of the serfs that live around the castle, and how small their houses are.

He also starts thinking about why everyone has different sized houses. He remembers that the nobles get land grants from kings, and those nobles give some of that land to knights and serfs in exchange for money.