This book takes a good look at the evolving and changing world of siege warfare during the Middle Ages. But it is not a dry and scholarly look at the subject. It is clearly written in a normal tone and aimed at the average reader. And it comes complete with around 50 drawings and photographs of sieges, castles, siege engines and more.
The title of the book in this review is "Medieval Siege Warfare". It is written by Christoper Gravett and the color plates were drawn by Richard and Christa Hook.
Siege warfare is a fascinating topic because during the Middle Ages a real arms race was going on. It was the race between castle builders, weapon builders, and siege engineers. Technology and engineering changed dramatically during medieval times and castles had to change and adapt in order to cope with this growth and keep their inhabitants safe. Both siege engineers and castle builders used many ingenious means and devices to achieve their goals. This book takes a good look at these tactics and techniques and how they changed and evolved over a several hundred year period.
The art of the siege was more than just ladders and catapults. It was a whole science with an arsenal of weapons for attack and methods for defense; and the book takes a good look at all these variations from tunnel digging to the building of moats and gatehouses and even diplomacy and biological warfare. And it gives solid examples, with pictures, of real castles and how they were built and attacked. It also has many DaVinci like drawings of siege weapons and tactics.
Some of the best parts of the book are the references to real sieges of real castles throughout history. It gives you short looks at how the sieges occurred and what happened. Some of the famous sieges covered are the first siege of Le Puiset in 1111, the sea-borne attack on Acre in 1189, and the siege of Chateau Gaillard in 1203.
This book is written for an audience of teens to adults and if you are looking for a good introductory book about the whole subject of the sieging of castles during the Middle Ages this is the perfect choice. It is not too scholarly, has lots of pictures and illustrations, and takes a complete look at the whole subject area.
Fun Summer Projects for Fathers and Sons
Summertime is the time for getting outside and having some fun. And there are lots of traditional ways to do this but this article looks at some unusual and different ways to enjoy the summer. The focus here is on projects that adults and children or teens can do together and with an eye toward learning and or making things. And although the title of this article says for fathers and sons all the projects and ideas would be great for fathers and daughters too!
The Architectural Marvels of Japan's Medieval Castles
Discover the architectural splendor and historical significance of Japan's medieval castles, which are often overshadowed by their European counterparts. Despite their distinct appearance, these fortresses played a similar protective role during Japan's extensive period of feudal warfare. This article delves into the unique design features and defensive strategies employed by these castles, highlighting their importance in Japanese history.
Epic Fantasy Book Review: Lamentation by Ken Scholes
This is an epic fantasy novel that doesn’t follow the now very over used formula that so many books in the genre follow yet it still stays comfortably within the genre. This makes a refreshing change. Add to this a heap of imagination and a talent for clear writing and you have a great book.
