How Powerful Was the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages?

Castles are fortified structures built primarily during the Middle Ages to serve as centers of defense, power, and residence for nobility. Designed to protect against invasion, they featured thick stone walls, towers, moats, gates, and strategic layouts that made them difficult to attack. Beyond military strength, castles also symbolized authority, wealth, and control over surrounding lands. Over time, castles evolved from purely defensive fortresses into more comfortable and decorative homes, r