Talk:Castle/Archive 1

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Images

The Himeji Castle in Japan

IMHO i think that the first image is not the most beautiful representation of a castle i ever seen in my life. And the have no copyright and no information. I would purpose to remove it. Chmouel 10:25, 27 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I don't think it's a very nice image to put right in the beginning either. Maybe it would be a good idea to remove it and put the Spanish castle on its place. – Kaonashi 15:25, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Someone added another image of a castle to the article, so I just exchanged it with that weird image we are talking about here. Maybe it should be listed for deletion, now that it's not being used anywhere else. – Kaonashi 04:52, 12 Dec 2004 (UTC)

The Himeji Castle image (above right) doesn't give as much architectural information as the one it was to replace, so I moved it here. With more good text on Japanese castles, we could use both images. Anyone? --Wetman 19:16, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I created a separate page for Japanese castles some time ago. But I think that page is pretty well-populated, image-wise. LordAmeth 02:36, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

the castles often took a while to break into cause it was like a maze. you break down a gate and a nothe one is behind it even harder to break down. (by jeaffery)that is why jeaffery is so cool

The picture is blurred and u can't see exactly what it is. it would be better to find a picture that looks like what it is supposed to be. What is it trying to show again????????

Agonized special pleading

"The term 'castle' can cover many things, but generally it is believed that a castle is a building which 'looks like one', in that a blanket definition of a castle as either a home or a fortress, or indeed as both, leaves out many buildings which are plainly castles."

This cautious bumble— attempting to include White Castle hamburger stands one supposes—is too naive to re-edit. Perhaps it's fine with the rest of you just as it is... --Wetman 19:58, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Definition

The definition in line one seems to define the word "fortress." Clearly a castle is a fortress, but what about castles separates them into unique structures: a unique classification of fortress? I think that is clearly their function as a residence and headquarters. A castle was definitely a residence in the sense of having accomodations for not only the lord and his retainers, courtiers, but also for women and children: this very different from a barracks. Also, a castle is not the same as city walls, like the very castle-evoking ones surrounding Carcassonne. A castle is a building or set of buildings that forms a singular defensive edifice and commands a territory: a castle is made to dominate a region. Thus, not every town or city has a castle if it falls within another castle's "range."

This type of information is necessary, otherwise the term loses scholarly significance, and, as it is, this article doesn't give a concise definition. Henry VIII's fortress were not castles. Vauban's fortresses were not castles. The Japanese fortresses which functiones as headquarters and residences of the daimyos were castles. The châteaux of the Loire Valley which were once residential fortresse were once castles, but Neuschwanstein is not. These other buildings may be called castles from time to time for descriptive purposes, ie because they "look like castles," but they are not real castles and the term retains little meaning if it is synonymous with either fortress and/or crenellated country house. I intend to add some of the above qualifiers and definitions, but I wanted to explain why here. Srnec 21:19, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

Purpose of castles edit

This article seemed very confused it what a castle exactly is. I have made the first steps to change this, bring the 'purpose of castles' topic to the front and changing it so it now talks not only of the defensive and offensive role of casltes but also of the residential aspects. It is only a first go at it however so please feel free to edit. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Joseph 2166 (talk • contribs) 10:05, 23 January 2006

Gallery

Pictures only in gallery made article a blank of text, at least until the end. The pictures lineup in text itself looked better, at least to me. M.K. 22:36, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

There is a Manual of Style on picture placement (can't find it at the moment). It says stagger pictures left/right/left/right etc.. like a stair well. It also says not to "stack" pictures along the edge of an article. I was going to gallery this article myself. Now that it's been done, about half the picture need to be re-added in a staggered fashion. -- Stbalbach 00:49, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

Yes I perfectly aware that bad lineup of images is quite bad thing, but proper placed (size, bottom on top etc.) images in text, makes it more friendly, something like this M.K. 13:03, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

I agree that the long stack of images wasn't bad, but there are too many images either way. The gallery is not a great improvement. Srnec 03:06, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Working toward featured article

I think this should become a featured article and am happy to work toward this, within the limitations of my knowledge.

Collaboration is welcomed. Apologies if anyone's toes are trodden on during the work. Greater apologies if useful material is inadvertantly wrongly discarded as disposable. Always happy to talk here - I hope I am not an edit warrior. --Dweller 15:51, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Armouries

Should we make mention at the end of the article of the trend in the 19th and 20th Centuries to build "armouries" that have castle-like features, including front archways, turrets, narrow windows, etc.? ie Mewata Armouries Michael Dorosh 13:49, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

I think there should be a section on follies and faux castles, where that would be appropriate. --Dweller 13:50, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

crusader castles

There is an excellent "Category:crusader castles" list of articles, but I can't work out how to get it linked in. You only get to it from here via the massive crusade article. Perhaps a more experienced hand could do it? Johnbod 00:10, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

suggestions

I started editing the 'design' section, then realised that castle designs are described in the 'history' section, so I am not sure what purpose the design section is intended for. The 'construction' part also seems like a detour, when it starts talking about cathedrals... I would suggest these sections are scrapped and merged into the history, which should probably be renamed 'European Castles' or something, so we can get sections on Crusader Castles, Japanese Castles etc, beneath, linking to the main articles where they exist. Also, what is the point of having the 'origins' section at the end? And the 'Influence of Castles in Britain' doesnt seem appropriate in a general castle article. Perhaps move to Castles in England, seeing as the section only talks about that part of Britain? ::Supergolden:: 12:52, 8 November 2006 (UTC)