England

In the Middle Ages, England was a land of green fields, villages, and many castles. A big change came in 1066, when a Norman leader crossed the sea and took control of England. After that, the Normans built hundreds of castles to keep control of the land.

Some castles had moats filled with water to stop attackers. Others had drawbridges that could be raised. Tall towers called keeps were the strongest part of a castle. The Tower of London was the most famous and was used as a fortress, palace, prison, and even a place to keep royal treasure.

Medieval England became powerful because of its strong kings, castles, and soldiers. One of England’s greatest weapons was the longbow. English archers trained from a young age and could fire arrows very fast and very far. Longbows were so strong they could pierce armor, making them deadly in battle. This weapon helped England win important battles during the Hundred Years’ War, even when they were outnumbered.

In 1215, important leaders in England forced the king to sign a document called the Magna Carta. This paper said that the king was not allowed to do whatever he wanted. He could not throw people in jail without a reason or take their land unfairly. The Magna Carta was important because it showed that even the king had to follow the law. Over time, this idea helped lead to a government where people could stand up to the king and have a voice in how they were ruled.

Even though Henry never got the son he hoped for, his daughter Elizabeth I later became one of the greatest queens in European history. Elizabeth ruled wisely and brought stability to England. During her reign, England defeated the powerful Spanish Armada, a huge fleet sent by Spain to invade England. This victory made England stronger and safer, and Elizabeth became known as a strong and clever ruler who helped England rise as a major power.