Tells how castles were built and takes the reader on a tour of a castle.

Includes glossary and index.

The age of castles -- People and power -- Building a castle -- Clues to the past -- A castle town -- Gates and walls -- Market day -- Castle defenses -- Warriors and arms -- Becoming a knight -- The story of armor -- Castle life -- Food and drink -- The kitchen -- The great hall -- Home life -- Clean and healthy -- Keeping in fashion -- The chapel -- Hunting and hawking -- The joust -- Heraldry -- Besieged! -- Under attack -- End of a seige -- Castles in history.