... against it was counter-mining; i.e. the defenders would dig their own tunnel hoping to break in to that of the beseigers and halt its construction. To prevent mining, a castle required a wide and deep moat. Evidence of a successful mining operation is to be found at Rochester Castle, Kent (photo at right). Its splendid Norman keep was originally built with four square angle ... under cover. Significant as these improvements were, there was one which was to lead eventually to a fundamental rethinking in castle design and the obsolescence of the keep. This was the adoption of the flanking...

• Word Count: 5493
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School