Castles valued defense above all. They were designed very strategically, with extremely thick walls, vantage points providing a full view of the area, and many other features to aid in protection against invaders.
Moats
A lot of castles had moats: man made ditches filled with water. They prevented attackers from getting too close. Therefore, they couldn't use a battering ram or easily dig underneath the castle, and archers could eliminate them easier. Some motes weren't that deep, but contained things like stakes at the bottom. |