After William won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he still faced a major problem.

Many English people did not accept Norman rule.

Rebellions broke out across the country, especially in areas far from London. William needed a way to control England quickly and effectively.

One of his most important solutions was castle building.

The Normans built castles all across England. These castles helped William control the population, defend important places and frighten potential rebels.

The first Norman castles were mainly motte and bailey castles.

In this lesson, you will learn:

• Why William built castles after 1066
• What motte and bailey castles looked like
• Why castles helped Norman control
• How castles were built quickly
• The advantages and disadvantages of motte and bailey castles
• Why castles changed England forever