Motte-and-Bailey

A motte-and-bailey is an early form of castle starting to be built at this time. Though not as powerful as a fully developed castle, these regularly fill a good niche, of having a motte, where there is a high earthworks with a wooden and/or stone structure on top that serves as the keep. The rest is courtyard known as the bailey, and the whole structure is surrounded by palisades & ditches, with one meandering road running round the outside, so as to slow down enemy troops. Most of these are built with a supply of water nearby or in it to allow access for this resource. Elements can be built below the structure to house troops, civilians, treasure, food, and the like. Settlements are usually built around the outside to allow for communities to spring up offering different goods & services.    At this time most of the motte-and-baileys are made of wood, and very very few contain stone. Partly this is due to the recent development of them, and the easy access to wood that many European nations have. They can be any size, and usually controlled by a noble or someone of importance.