From simple palisades to sophisticated fortress-palaces, this book explains how castles evolved to meet the demands of feudal society and improving technology. While centred on British castles, the book constantly sets them in a wider background and makes stimulating comparisons with developments in other countries to show the influences that affected castle builders. Conrad Cairns pays special attention to smaller castles, including the tower-houses of Scotland and Ireland and shows how the castle was also a residential construction. He describes how the changes which brought the Middle Ages to a close made the castle obsolete and how the name was inherited by forts and country houses.

Medieval Castles (Cambridge Introduction to World History)

Children's Books

Cairns, Conrad

History

Cambridge University Press

A history and discussion of those fortified private dwellings, known as castles, which were built in Europe only during the Middle Ages, with particular attention to those of Britain.

Medieval Castles (Cambridge Topic Books)

Lerner Pub Group

In the 19th century the eastern Savannah (now divided between the countries of Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Cameroon) was one of the most neglected parts of the African continent, and yet at the same time one of the most culturally sophisticated. During this period warfare among the peoples of the eastern Savannah, and in particular the three most significant native states – the Sokoto Caliphate, the ancient kingdom of Bornu, and the somewhat less ancient state of Bagirmi – was largely dominated by cavalry, and a significant proportion of these mounted troops were armored. This groundbreaking book covers the period that began with the Sokoto jihad in 1804 and ended with the extinction of the Savannah states by the European colonial powers at the turn of the 20th century. In addition to providing a brief outline history of the three states, it examines in detail the arms, equipment and methods of warfare used by their armored ‘knights’ and infantry, and includes in addition sections on their horses, artillery, flags, fortifications, and clothing. It is illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs and engravings.

African Knights: The Armies of Sokoto, Bornu and Bagirmi in the 19th Century

Africa

Foundry

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Books by Cairns, Conrad