Medieval Castles Information

Medieval Movies - Medieval Videos

2006-10-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

This year has flown by. I am trying hard to get back to actively posting on this blog. And it seems like I will have more time to do that over the Fall to Spring months. =)

I have been working on two big projects this year at the same time.

One is a software project and the other is a website project.

I built what I believe to be the best website builder currently available. It is easy to use and very fast. If you can write an email you will now be able to build a website. If you want to launch your own medieval website (or a site on any other subject that interests you) please check out the Easy Website Builder.

The other project, the website, is for a local video store right here in Cuba, Missouri.

If you are interested in VHS movies, DVD videos, PS2 games and more I highly recommend checking out their Movies and Games website!

For some great medieval-style action (especially seeing the siege weapons in use) you can pick up a Lord of the Rings VHS for a very small price.

That's it for today. I will try to post more regularly in the coming weeks!

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Newsletter - Where Does the Time Go?

2006-05-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

Wow! Can you believe it is already May? Yep, today is May 1st and this year seems to be flying by. In fact, there are only 3 weeks left and school will be out for the summer break here.

I wanted to get the April issue of the newsletter out sometime during the past two weeks but that did not happen and I am fully responsible for that.

However, I have been working and in fact have added at least four new pages of information to the medieval site and launched an ebook since last publishing the newsletter as well as returned to actively updating this blog.

I am scheduling this weekend to mail out the May issue of the newsletter. Unless some major disaster occurs (unlikely) this next issue will be mailed out this coming weekend!

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Forum: Do You Want One?

2006-04-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

You may remember a post I made last year talking about a medieval forum I wanted to launch for all of the visitors to my website and blog (if you are reading this then yes you are included).

I started work on setting up a medieval forum but became too busy with other projects so the forum was placed on hold.

What I would like to find out is do you want me to set up a medieval forum where you can discuss various topics relating to medieval castles, siege weapons and the other subjects I cover on my website and in this blog?

I figured it makes good sense to ask you since you are the reason I would make the forum.

I believe the medieval forum could become a valuable resource for students, teachers and medievalists. Share information and online resources. Talk about the challenges you face and how you overcome them. Get to know other people who share your interests.

If you are interested in a medieval forum please contact me at my medieval website and tell me you would like me to set up a medieval forum. Scroll down that page and use the easy contact form.

While it is not required, if you don't mind sharing the information, I'd also like to know if you are a teacher, student or a medievalist (although students and teachers can also be medievalists in this case I just mean are you very interested in medieval subjects AND NOT a teacher or a student).

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Gravity Catapults page added to Medieval Website

2006-04-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

This morning I added a new page on gravity catapults to my medieval website. Gravity catapults are more commonly known as trebuchets. If you want to learn about this Chinese invention please visit this new page now.

Best regards,
Garfield Benjamin

Tension Catapults page added to Medieval Website

2006-04-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

I just added a new page on tension catapults to my medieval website.

If you want to learn about tension catapults (the first type of catapults created by the Greeks) please visit this new page now.

Best regards,
Garfield Benjamin

6 Amazing Medieval Castles in England - Free Ebook!

2006-04-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

Today I released an ebook called 6 Amazing Medieval Castles in England You Can Visit this Year! If you are interested in medieval castles, and particularly if you would like to visit one, I highly recommend that you download this free ebook right now.

I will be adding this ebook to the Subscriber Bonuses page. In case you are not familiar with the Subscriber Bonuses page, this is a special password-protected page I have set up where subscribers to my free medieval newsletter can download free stuff.

If you are not already a subscriber and want to subscribe to this free medieval newsletter I encourage you to sign up now!

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Newsletter April Issue Coming Soon!

2006-04-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

I am running late with the April issue of Medieval Siege Alerts the official newsletter of Medieval-Castle-Siege-Weapons.com, but I plan on sending it out this coming weekend.

If you are not already a subscriber and want to subscribe to this free medieval newsletter I encourage you to sign up now!

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Traction Catapults page added to Medieval Website

2006-04-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

I just added a new page on traction catapults to my medieval website.

If you want to learn about traction catapults (an evolutionary step in medieval siege weapons technology) I recommend visiting this new page now.

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Torsion Catapults page added to website

2006-04-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

I just added a new page on torsion catapults to my medieval website.

If you want to learn about torsion catapults (early medieval siege weapons produced by the Greeks) I recommend visiting this new page now.

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Blog is blog is back online!

2006-03-17T06:34:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

Due to various technical issues I was unable to update this blog since the end of January!

The great news is that now the blog is back and I will be posting here on a regular basis once again.

My website All About Medieval Castles & Medieval Siege Weapons was not effected during this time and continues to be updated.

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Castles Free Word Search Puzzle

2006-01-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

Just a short post here to let you know that I updated my medieval website a few minutes ago.

This time I have another fun learning activity for everyone who enjoys word search puzzles.

Medieval Castles Free Word Search Puzzle
This is a page containing a free word search puzzle you can print out and complete at your convenience. Each word is the name of a medieval castle so working the puzzle is a good way to learn some of these castle names.

Enjoy!

Garfield Benjamin

Kingdom of Heaven Features an Awesome Medieval Siege!

2006-01-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

Have you watched Kingdom of Heaven?

If not then I want to recommend that you see it IF you want to see a good movie that features a very well done medieval style siege.

This movie was released over the summer but I just watched it Sunday evening. The RedBox at our local McDonald's is a great thing. Each Tuesday new movies are offered for rental. And you really cannot complain about $1 to watch a good movie!

The main hero in this movie (played by Orlando Bloom) is a knight. Not just a knight but he aims to be the one good knight and strives to do the right thing despite temptations and opportunities to do otherwise.

The latter third of the movie has our knight defending Jerusalem from a siege. It is very interesting to watch this war take place and pay close attention to the planning and preparation done by our good knight. He is methodical and it pays off in the end. I am not saying what happens because I do not want to spoil the ending for you if you have not already watched it.

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Castle Architecture Free Word Search Puzzle!

2006-01-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

Just a short post here to let you know that I updated my medieval website last night.

This time I have something fun for everyone who enjoys word search puzzles:

Medieval Castle Architecture Free Word Search Puzzle

This is a page containing a free word search puzzle you can print out and complete at your convenience. Each word has something to do with medieval castle architecture so it is also a good way to learn more of these terms and improve your overall vocabulary.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy it!

Garfield Benjamin

How to Make a Catapult!

2006-01-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

This is a short post to let you know that I added a new page to the Medieval Castles Medieval Siege Weapons website Monday afternoon.

I know a lot of visitors to my website and to this blog are interested in learning how to make their own medieval siege engines.

There is not a lot of information online for beginners who have the interest and ambition to learn how to make a catapult but lack the experience and construction skills.

I hope my new article provides a solution for you:

How to Make a Catapult - Your First Project
How to make a catapult shows you how a complete beginner can successfully build a working catapult or trebuchet.

I think you will find this article very interesting and practical.

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Castles Information Wishes You a Happy New Year

2006-01-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

This is my first post of the new year.

Can you believe 2005 has already passed away and 2006 stretches before us?

As I write this it is about 2:00 PM on January 5th, 2006 and I want to share some of the things I have in mind for this year.

First, I will continue to post interesting information I find in the news that relates to medieval subjects as well as important updates on my own projects and medieval website.

Second, I will continue to add interesting, specialized information to my medieval study website. I have received many emails from Middle School, High School, and College Teachers as well as students thanking me for building the site and telling me how useful the information is. I just want to take this time to thank each of you for contacting me. It really means a lot to know that my work is appreciated.

Third, I plan on releasing more articles for syndication. Last year I only released 2 but it was a start at least. This year I would like to put out at least 10 articles for syndication.

Fourth, I have been thinking a lot about writing mini ebooks. Each of these would focus on 1 very specialized subject such as catapult history. As I see it now each of these mini ebooks would contain only 5 to 15 pages of information and images. However, what they lack in overall page numbers they would make up for with very specific information that you might not be able to find otherwise.

Fifth, I plan on releasing at least two more medieval screensavers and I would like to come up with other medieval software products that will help my visitors and subscribers.

Sixth, I will definitely release more medieval quizzes. As I see it now, there are numerous quizzes I can make on various medieval topics. And I believe they will be fun and educational. Perhaps teachers can even use some of the quizzes for their classes.

So, I hope you stick around in the new year. I will be working hard to bring you many exciting new products and hard to find medieval information.

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - check out this excellent resource
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Lord Wolfgan - Defending the Medieval Castle for 15 Years

2005-12-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

I came across another interesting news article this morning and wanted to share it with you.

The article talked about Lord Wolfgan. Lord Wolfgan is actually Staff Sgt. Brian Neldner, a noncommissioned officer who has participated in medieval era battles across the country for the past 15 years.

Neldner is part of an organization known as The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). The SCA is dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe.

This article provides a description of a recent event in which Lord Wolfgan attempted to defend a medieval castle from a siege by knights on horseback.

Armed with a crossbow, Lord Wolfgan fires bolts at the knight's chests as they charge toward the castle. Sword fighting is often a part of these events as well.

Lord Wolfgan's favorite SCA event is called Pennsic, a medieval war between the Eastern United States and the Midwestern United States. This event is held in Pittsburgh, PA.

Neldner recalls being attacked by so many people that he ran out of ammunition for his crossbow well before the end of the war.

Very interesting reading. You know... it kind of makes you want to grab your armor and suit up!

You can read the full story here.

Garfield Benjamin
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Thanksgiving Dinner Pumpkin Pie is Going in the Oven

2005-11-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my medieval blog.

Today we are having our Thanksgiving Dinner! I imagine most of you who celebrate the holiday have already enjoyed your feast back on Thursday and are wondering why we are having ours three days later.

Today is the "best day" for us to get together. It also makes a great way to end the weekend and go into another week of school and work.

You know, I have never made a pie before. Today I thought I would make a pumpkin pie. I mean how hard could it be, right?

Seemed easy enough. Just threw a can of pumpkin and some other stuff in a bowl, mixed it up, poured it into a pie crust and tossed it into the oven for 45 minutes. An hour or so after it finishes baking we'll see how it came out.

In the meantime I hope to get some things done on my medieval website.

I hope you enjoyed a very happy Thanksgiving and wish you, your friends and family safe traveling.

Happy Holidays!

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - Castle Floor Plans, History and More!
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Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

Hello,

This is just a short post to wish all visitors who celebrate the holiday a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

We're actually having our Thanksgiving Dinner and Family-Get-Together this coming Sunday so I have 3 more days to wait!

Remember the reason for the holiday (besides eating and relaxing I mean). ;)

I'm thankful for a number of reasons including God, my family & friends, visitors to my medieval website and this medieval blog, and my country (the USA).

Best regards,

Garfield Benjamin

Caernarfon Castle is Key to Rejuvenation for Welsh Town

2005-11-16T07:55:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my Medieval Castle Blog.

I came across an interesting news article this morning and wanted to let you know about it.

The article talked about the Welsh town of Caernarfon.

It seems that at one time, several decades ago, Caernarfon was competing with Cardiff to become the Welsh capitol.

Once a town that seemed to be heading for great exposure and huge growth has failed to achieve its potential.

Streets that were once filled with life are now deserted at night and Caernarfon suffers from high unemployment.

Caernarfon Castle is one of many fortresses built by King Edward I in the 13th century.

A group of local entrepreneurs, with help from the Welsh Assembly government, believe they can turn things around and get Caernarfon going in the right direction by focusing on Caernarfon Castle.

Other towns such as York and Edinburgh draw thousands of tourists because of the medieval buildings, Roman and Viking remains, cobbled streets and Reformation-era buildings.

The plan to revitalize Caernarfon calls for stunning sound-and-light shows to be held against the backdrop of Caernarfon Castle.

You can read the full the story here.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - check out this excellent resource
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How to Build a Medieval Catapult - A Few Pictures

2005-11-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my medieval blog.

If you read the post I made this past Saturday you know that I had completed the construction of the catapult Morghan and I have been working on.

I thought you might be interested in seeing a few photos of the miniature medieval catapult at various points of its construction and that is the reason for this post today.

Here is a very early photo.

As you can see from the picture... the catapult frame is setting near the center in an upside down frisbee.

This particular frisbee has been used in the past as a "work / drying area" for other projects as evidenced by the white paint.

This is a great photo to give you an idea of the size of this catapult.

Here is another early photo of the mini catapult a bit further along than before.

We can see here that Morghan has added the sides to the catapult base as well as built out the vertical pole in 2 spots.

The idea at the time was that a rubber band would be placed in between those two extended areas that you can see near the top of the pole.

At this point it is still difficult to tell exactly what is being created. Some people who saw this replica at this stage thought it was going to be a boat but then I think more people are familiar with boats than medieval catapults so no surprise there!

This is a photo of the mini medieval catapult after construction and painting was completed.

Yes, this represents quite a jump ahead from the photos above but I asure you this is the same project!

Here, the mini medieval catapult is setting on the dining room table.

See those wheels? Those are the ones I told you I had removed from the wooden toy train engine I bought at Walmart for 88 cents!

My views on this project and how it turned out?

Overall, I think it came out great for a first attempt at producing a working miniature medieval catapult.

Is it perfect? Of course not! But it does clearly show what can be accomplished with household items, some super glue, creativity, planning and a bit of time and effort.

Again, I want to thank Morghan for the time she put into this project.

THANKS MORGHAN!

Morghan happens to be a huge Harry Potter book (and movies but to a bit lesser degree) fan! She has an awesome Harry Potter website so please feel free to check it out if you have an interest in Harry Potter information such as Harry Potter book summaries, Harry Potter movie reviews, Harry Potter Quotes and other topics from the World of Harry Potter.

That is it for today.

I will post again soon hopefully after I have decided to either document the construction of this catapult on my website or else create version 2 which should be much better than this first draft.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - Medieval Siege Weapons
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Mini Medieval Catapult Construction is Complete!

2005-11-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Yesterday afternoon I completed the construction of the mini medieval catapult and even did a couple of test firings!

It works of course (not really hard to get the actual launching part working).

I had a slight change in plans during construction. Originally I had planned on trying to replicate the power source of the original catapults by using a rubber band.

However, I really wanted to get this prototype done so I can get on to other projects. This first project does not need to be perfect because it is only a prototype, version one, whatever you want to call it. Using what was learned from this project will allow a better catapult to be constructed next time and allow you to build a better catapult the first time.

Anyway, I ended up using the energy of tension on the catapult arm itself to perform the launches. By wedging one end in the base and "locking it" so it could not move pressure is then applied to the other end of the catapult arm to build up tension energy within the arm itself. Releasing the pressure naturally results in that end of the catapult arm flinging back up to the straight position launching the projectile in the process.

Putting it simply, the catpult arm is flicking things. Imagine taking a tree limb and bending it back at one end, tension energy builds within the limb itself, right? Let go of the end you have pulled back and what happens? The limb flies back to straighten itself out. That is how the catapult arm is working.

Next I will paint the catapult and then post a picture on this blog as well as add details to the pages on my sites of how I built this mini catapult (with a lot of work being done by Morghan - I want to give her credit because she did at least 50% of the actual construction of the catapult if not more).

That's it for now.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - Medieval Siege Weapons
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Wheels Added to Mini Medieval Catapult

2005-11-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update here to let you know I finished adding the wheels to the mini medieval catapult.

You might remember I bought a wooden toy train engine that came with 6 wheels. I removed 4 of the wheels from the train engine and used them for the catapult.

The 4 toothpicks worked great for the axles. Like I said yesterday, I simply shaved the end of each toothpick at an angle so 2 toothpicks could be joined together to form 1 axle.

The next update will be to add the catapult arm or to add the supports to the "stop block" (the part the catapult arm hits when fired).

I will let you know when I have completed the next update right here in this blog.

Garfield Benjamin
Easily Build Your Own Working Catapult with a Kit!

Toothpicks Provide Solution for Mini Medieval Catapult

2005-11-07T18:51:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I wanted to give you a quick update on the mini medieval catapult project. I know many of you are interested in how to build a medieval catapult and for that reason wish I would hurry up and get this thing done.

Today, I finally found the time to get back to the project and my focus was to attach the wheels to the mini catapult.

After discovering that one of the boys had decided to see how many pieces they could break the dowel rod into I knew I needed to come up with another solution for the axles!

Sure it was a bit of a shame since I had spent time sanding down the rod to fit but not a disaster and kids do tend to think differently so you just have to accept these things... no sense in blowing a gasket over something so silly, right? ;)

Anyway, I looked around the house and noticed... the toothpick jar.

Hmm... I thought "I wonder if just maybe I could take a couple toothpicks and stick them together to form the rod needed for the wheels?"

So that is what I did. I broke off the pointed ends of 2 toothpicks and then shaved one side of each toothpick at an angle so one could be laid down on the other and blend seamlessly together. Just a bit of superglue and presto I had a nice rod for the axle.

The real beauty of this solution is its simplicity. I think many people will have toothpicks already available in their home so it saves a trip to the store and money spent on the dowel rod! I like it. =)

I will post again soon with the next update on this project.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - Medieval Siege Weapons
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What happened to the Miniature Medieval Catapult Project?

2005-10-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post here.

It has been 12 days since my last post on this blog and I know many of you are wondering what happened and are very interested in hearing more about the medieval catapult project.

Sorry for the delay in posting, I've just been very busy the past 2 weeks.

There is always quite a bit going on around here but the past 2 weeks have brought more activities than normal from the local fall festival weekend to the karate promotion test and more.

Trust me, I certainly have not forgot about the catapult project and am looking forward to getting those wheels on and then adding the arm.

I hope to get that done by the end of this weekend.

Once that part is finished I will update this blog again.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin

Miniature Medieval Catapult Project Update

2005-10-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

You can find information on how to build mini catapults at my website.

Just a quick update here about my project to build a minature (and very simple) working medieval catapult.

I have done my best to use materials that are easy to find so anyone can duplicate my work. The majority of the construction has taken place using simple craft sticks and glue!

I don't think I would recommend setting out to duplicate this first mini catapult (once I actually complete it) because this is, after all, just a prototype.

After making this first version I will be able to make a better minature catapult in my next project.

By taking a look at the pictures, process and my suggestions for what to do better next time you will be able to make a better mini catapult than I did on your first attempt!

Last night I located some wheels for the catapult. I figured it would be easy to find 4 small wooden wheels and 2 dowel rods. Well, I live in Cuba, MO USA and this tiny Walmart actually does not carry any wooden wheels, in fact they do not offer much in the way of wood craft supplies at all.

I got a "lucky break" (or was it simply I'll take whatever I can find) when I spotted a wooden train engine near the craft supplies. The engine came with 4 wooden wheels! It only cost 88 cents so I bought it along with a dowel rod.

Last night I drilled 4 holes in the catapult frame, removed 2 wheels from the wooden train engine and sanded down part of the dowel rod so it will fit into the holes I made (as well as the holes in the wooden wheels from the train engine).

In the process, one of the craft sticks broke.

NOTE: Next time drill holes before attaching the craft stick to the catapult. ;)

So I glued that cracked stick and this afternoon I will get back to adding the wheels.

Next I will add the catapult arm. Of course, I probably should have done that before the wheels but I'll let you know if it causes any problems.

Part of the challenge in this project is, like I said near the beginning of this post, I am trying to build this working minature catapult from scratch while using supplies and tools that most people either already have or can easily find. This will make the project doable for most people.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - Medieval Siege Weapons
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Medieval Mini Catapult Project

2005-10-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? It has already been 2 days since my last post. Speaking of that post...the potato soup, cornbread and visit with Nona was excellent.

Here is just a quick update on the Mini Catapult Project I am working on as part of my first medieval catapult podcast.

The platform and power anchor have been constructed. The next items on the list are (1) the pivot for the catapult arm and (2) wheels. Once these pieces are added I will work on the power source for the catapult and test this prototype.

I have been taking photos of the construction process and will add a new page to my site providing the step-by-step instructions to duplicate this mini catapult once I have it finished and working.

In the meantime, remember there is plenty of information on the site already for anyone interested in how to build a catapult.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - Medieval Siege Weapons
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Potato Soup and Cornbread: Enjoying a Medieval Meal

2005-10-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

This is my first post of the new week.

Depending on whether you like potato soup or not, the title of this message may have made you feel a little hungry.

After coming home from Church this morning I spent about 15 minutes peeling and washing potatoes while Dawn got the rest of the items ready to make some of her delicious potato soup.

We will be heading to Nona's (that is the Italian nickname for Grandmother and is actually Dawn's mom) shortly where Nona is making the cornbread.

This event prompted my thinking about how similiar this must be to a medieval meal. Assuming the people had the necessary potatoes and flour / meal for the cornbread I would think such a simple and tasty meal may have been quite common during the Middle Ages.

Today, it seems like we are caught up in fancy food, fast food and just plain junk food.

Maybe we should all remember how nice it can be to share a simple yet delicious meal with our friends and family. I imagine this was often the case during the Middle Ages.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Times Food Information Available Here

Free Online Medieval Quiz Released Yesterday

2005-10-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder that my new Fun Online Quiz was released yesterday.

There are not many good medieval quizzes available. If you are looking for something different from the norm you will definitely want to take this fun medieval quiz right now.

This free online quiz is called the Medieval Catapult Quiz and, as the name implies, the quiz will test your knowledge of medieval catapults.

Are you a Siege Warlord or merely an Apprentice?

Find out now by taking this fun online quiz!

Garfield Benjamin
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Free Fun Online Medieval Quiz and Test Now Available

2005-10-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

You might remember reading a message I posted yesterday that told you I was working on a free medieval history quiz for my website.

Today I am pleased to let you know this quiz is online and ready for your enjoyment.

There are 3 main reasons I made this quiz:

1. I have not found a decent medieval quiz online... yet! That does not mean someone has not created one, just that I have never found it.

2. I really appreciate people taking the time to visit my site and I am glad they find the information so helpful. This is a way I can say thanks by offering them an educational way of free entertainment.

3. I am tired of so many sites marketing their quizzes (...and screensavers and nearly everything else in fact!) as FREE in search engine results or Advertisements but when you arrive on these sites what do you see? A form staring you right in the face making you register before you can take their quiz or download their screensaver. Some even try to charge you a fee at that time! How annoying is that? Very annoying in my opinion.

Yes, I understand they are trying to do a great job at marketing and building their list of contacts but is it really necessary to "charge" for every single thing?! I, for one at least, do not believe this is the case!

Okay, enough of the soap box. This post is about having some good educational fun!

The quiz is called The Medieval Catapult Quiz and although it is very short I think it will get you thinking! Plus you will almost certainly learn something just by taking this fun online quiz.

I built an index page that will list all quizzes as they are added to the site.

You can check this out by visiting the Free (and Fun) Online Medieval Quiz page.

Have a great afternoon!

Garfield Benjamin
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(notice how I tell you that you need to subscribe right here instead of you having to wait until you visit the page to find out - kind of makes sense doesn't it?!)

Medieval Announcements - Great Things Are Coming Soon

2005-10-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

This is a quick post just to let you know that I will be making 3 announcements within the next week or two.

I have been very busy this week working on 3 projects and I hope to release each of them within days of each other.

First, I have decided to venture into podcasting and the first podcast is titled "How to build a catapult". This one actually produced a "side project" in that I am building a minature catapult out of craft sticks. I'm taking photos to document the construction. I think this will be educational and a lot of fun for you.

Second, I have almost completed an online quiz about medieval catapults.

Third, I am starting work on a new software product to build quizzes.

Generally speaking, I don't like doing multiple projects at once. The reason? I think it is much better to stay focused on one project until it is complete. However, in this case, everything is working out well. I guess I'd say that 3 projects is a good limit. ;)

You can expect the online quiz to be ready by this weekend, I will post a message here when it is on the site.

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin
How to build a catapult

Historic Camelot Project Holds Event at Beaver Dam!

2005-10-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I came across an interesting news article this morning and wanted to let you know about it.

Unfortunately, the event described in the article has already been held and I apologize for not spotting this one in time to give you some advance notice.

Even though the event has already been held I think it warrants coverage here and if you live near the area you may want to stay alert for future events.

The article talked about a fund-raiser for the Historic Camelot Project being held in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (in the USA).

The Historic Camelot Project provides educational programs for schools and has plans of building a replica of an English medieval village. My impressions: Very ambitious as well as interesting!

The event featured a variety of musical entertainment, jousting and sword-play, educational programs and games.

The fund-raiser for the Historic Camelot Project was held at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin this past weekend (Ocotber 1st and 2nd).

The good news is this was the third major fundraiser for the Historic Camelot Project and from what I have read they hold similiar medieval events each year so try to post a reminder so you can check into this for next year!

You can visit the Historic Camelot website for more information and read the full the story here.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Projects and More!

Medieval Castles Information Now Available by RSS!

2005-10-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

This is my first blog post of October and I hope it is interesting to you!

This weekend I set up an RSS / XML feed for my medieval website.

If you don't know what RSS / XML are don't worry it is really simple (although many Technical People like to make these things way complicated).

For you, adding the RSS / XML feed from my website means you will get the latest updates delivered straight to your My Yahoo! or My MSN account. Of course, it will also work with your Google Personalized Search page.

Whether you realize it or not Google, Yahoo, and MSN allow you to define your own page that becomes your "home" at their sites. You can easily customize the page to show you the information you are most interested in seeing. For example, if you want to get news about medieval jousting tournaments it is easy to tell these search engines to search for any news on medieval jousting tournaments and display the latest 5 results they find. RSS expands on this system to allow you to pick and choose feeds from websites such as www.medieval-castle-siege-weapons.com!

To get started and see what this is all about all you need to do is visit my medieval studies website.

Above the Navigation bar on the left side of the screen you will see a box that looks like the image over there on the left.
<---- (looks like this)

If you prefer Yahoo click on the add to My YAHOO! button.
If you prefer MSN click on the MY MSN + button

And if you want to know more about an RSS Feed, such as "why would I use an RSS feed?" click on the link that says "What's an RSS feed?".

I recommend adding the feed to either Yahoo or MSN even if you don't have any idea at this point what it does. Why? First, doing so is not going to hurt anything so you have no worries there and second, by adding the feed to Yahoo or MSN you will understand exactly what an RSS Feed is and why they are great for you!

Once you see how easy and powerful RSS feeds are you may want to tell your family and friends about them and show them how to set up their own feeds at Yahoo or MSN.

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin

5 More Medieval Terms to Add to Your Vocabulary

2005-09-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

This morning I am following up on the post I made 2 weeks ago titled "Increase Your Medieval Vocabulary" with some more medieval terms.

These should be of interest to any students interested in medieval times, and it never hurts for any of us to expand our vocabularies. ;)

The following terms are centered around medieval castles:

ASHLAR
This term was often used to refer to the outer part of a medieval castle wall. Generally the Ashlar consisted of square blocks of smoothed stone.

BAILEY
The ward or courtyard inside the medieval castle walls.

BURHA
A medieval castle or dwelling.

GATE HOUSE
The "network" of towers, bridges, and barriers protecting entrance to a medieval castle. The Gate House can be thought of as the medieval castle complex.

POSTERN GATE
A side (or other less important) gate into a medieval castle.

That makes five more terms to add to your medieval vocabulary. At this rate, by the end of the year you may well be able to understand all of those NOVA videos on castles!

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin
About Medieval Castles & Medieval Siege Weapons!

Fancy a Feast in a 900 Year Old Castle?

2005-09-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

I came across another interesting news article this morning and wanted to let you know about it asap!

One of the best preserved Medieval Castles in England is Skipton Castle.

Referred to as A Medieval Fortress, Skipton Castle is located at the top of Skipton High Street in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England. Skipton is not that far from York and Leeds. So if you live in or near any of these areas this article will be of particular interest to you.

The article talked about a 2-day event called the "Autumn Feast" that will be hosted at Skipton Castle this weekend (1st and 2nd of October).

The Autumn Feast is described as a "celebration of fine food and drink presented by farmers, growers and food producers from the region" (of Yorkshire Dales).

Local Chef Stephanie Moon and celebrity Chef James Martin will be demonstrating the use of local produce to create some tasty meals. Last year Stephanie was awarded Yorkshire Life Chef of the year and James was recently announced as a contestant for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. Stephanie will be at the event on Saturday and James is scheduled for Sunday.

The Autumn Feast will also feature food producers, cook books (both old and new), and a special "Cow Pat" challenge for younger visitors.

This event will be open to the public from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm both days. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

You can visit FeastNet.net for information on the event, visit the Skipton Castle website for more information on Skipton Castle and read the full the story here.

Garfield Benjamin
Learn About the Medieval Times

Most Popular Searches: Have You Searched Today?

2005-09-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hi,

With this first post today I am going to break away from medievalism a bit.

Why? Well, quite simply because we all have other interests and it is good to not become so narrow minded that we only think about one thing!

Other than that I just think you may find this interesting.

Today, I went to the Lycos Top 50 to see what people are searching for. They list the top 50 searches and have been doing so each week for the past several years.

Let's take a look at some of the topics of these most popular searches and just maybe you will see a topic that you have been searching for.

The #1 most popular search is for "Pam Anderson". Okay, I guess this shows there really are more guys using the Internet. Still, #1?! I mean people are actually searching for her more than anything else online?! Think about that for a moment. I don't get it.

At #2 we find "Dragonball". Amazing isn't it? This has apparently created a huge following!

The same can be said for "Pokemon" which is the #3 most popular search.

What I find very interesting is that "Tattoos" is actually the #6 most popular search. Does this mean that people are suddenly becoming more and more interested in getting a tattoo or is it a group of about 1000 people searching 100 times per day for a certain kind of tattoo? We may never know.

"Christmas" is found at spot #10. Now this makes sense, right? Christmas is really not that far away and the wise person will certainly be planning their shopping now if they have not already started their shopping!

"The Bible" has earned a spot at #13. While I think this would be better near the top (say before Pam Anderson) I am at least glad to see it is relatively high on the list.

"Halloween" is at spot #14. Again, this makes sense. Halloween is coming up very fast. In about 1 month from now we will see the sidewalks filled with witches, skeletons, and a variety of other interesting trick-or-treaters.

Amazingly, "Star Wars" sits at spot 18. I am sure the new movies play a big part in the sustained interest of this story.

"Harry Potter" is at spot #29. Interesting books, entertaining movies. Seems reasonable.

"War in Iraq" finds a spot at #40. I am kind of surprised this one is so far down the list. Maybe people are tired of reading about it but I think we need to keep in mind what is happening over there and not let them be forgotten.

That is all I will cover here.

An interesting list, wouldn't you agree?

How many of these have you searched for in the past week?

I have searched for only 1 on this list in the past week (and no it was not the first one!).

That's it for now, I will post again with some medieval news either later today or tomorrow.

Garfield Benjamin
All About Medieval Castles
All About Medieval Siege Weapons

Medieval Castle Information - Recommended Websites

2005-09-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is a recap of a message I posted a little over 3 weeks ago.

I thought you might find it useful to know about some of the best medieval websites I have found so you can check them out!

These are not stores offering medieval products. These websites are Content-Rich meaning they are filled with great medieval information for your education and reading enjoyment.

So, here we go, these are sites I have found to be very informative and easy to navigate:

European Medieval Castles Design
A high-quality medieval website filled with information on European Medieval Castles with emphasis placed on the various architecture and castle design styles.

Castles of Britain
Another high-quality medieval website filled with information on the great castles of Britain. Has many sections including (my favorites) the Castle Learning Center, Castle Ghosts, and the Castle of the Month sections.

Medieval Crusades
A very nice site focusing on the Medieval Crusades with information on the Church, the Kings of Jerusalem, the Foes of the Crusaders, and Coins of the Crusades.

Guide to Castles of Europe
Visit some of Europe’s most picturesque, mysterious and notorious castles and unravel the history, legends, and myths behind celebrated and not so renowned castles.

Enjoy the sites!

Garfield Benjamin
All About Medieval Castles
All About Medieval Siege Weapons

Is it Possible Medieval Dragons Really Existed?

2005-09-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Today I found myself thinking about medieval dragons.

I know, how does one find themselves thinking about a subject like this? Well, if you share my interest in medieval times than I am sure you can understand.

But I was not just letting my mind wander aimlessly around the subject.

No, what I was thinking about is the possibility of medieval dragons being real.

Before you start laughing at what seems like such a rediculous notion to many people, let me explain.

I actually am writing an article about medieval dragons for my Medieval Website and the focus of the article is about the possibility of dragons actually existing during the Middle Ages.

Let me make just a few points from my forthcoming article to get your mind thinking and show you the idea of medieval dragons existing during the Middle Ages may not be as rediculous as it first sounds.

If medieval dragons never existed...

* Where did the concept of "medieval dragons" come from and why?

* Why do so many cultures around the world contain references to "medieval dragons" in their history?

* Why do the old drawings of "medieval dragons", regardless of the culture, look so remarkably similiar?

With those questions in mind, consider the following question:

Could it be possible that such creatures known as "medieval dragons" once lived and were hunted to extinction during the Middle Ages?

I'd really like to get your feedback on this.

Please use the following Poll to submit your opinion.

Thanks,

Garfield Benjamin
All About Medieval Castles

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in the Middle Ages

2005-09-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I was thinking about Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

In this age we are fortunate to have weather technology systems in place such as Early Warning Systems. Through satellite imagery and other analytical means we are often able to foresee these terrible storms early enough to at least attempt to minimalize the loss of life.

We do this using another technology, communications. Through Radio, Television, the Internet and even the phone we are able to communicate information literally around the world in seconds.

Yet with all of these remarkable inventions we still suffer tremendous property damage and even loss of life.

Thinking about this situation I could not help but wonder what would it have been like to endure such violent storms during the Middle Ages?

Would a kingdom be able to withstand such force?

It seems likely that a medieval castle or fortress, which was built primarily of very thick stone walls, would indeed be able to withstand a very powerful storm.

The real issue I think is the lack of ability to identify the threat of such storms early enough to make preparations.

Imagine standing on the shore by the edge of the water. Out across the horizon, the sky darkens and the wind picks up. The waves become stronger.

Without warning, a giant wave appears in the distance moving quickly toward you.

You would obviously want to turn and run as fast as you could to the nearest shelter and you would most likely warn everyone you met along the way. But how many lives would be saved by your efforts when mere minutes later a hurricane such as Katrina arrives in your kingdom?

Garfield Benjamin
Learn About the Medieval Times
All About Medieval Castles

Medieval Times Restaurant - Experience the Middle Age!

2005-09-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

This morning I thought I would share something that is rather unique in 2005, a Medieval Times Restaurant.

Imagine being able to experience a true medieval dinner complete with medieval entertainment such as knights battling for their honor (and your enjoyment) and you being treated like a noble's guest. You will ultimately be referred to as the guest of the nobleman.

Yes, this is actually a reality and the experience can be yours at a place called, simply enough, "Medieval Times". The "Medieval Times Restaurant" locations are actually referred to as "Medieval Times Castles".

A Medieval Times Restaurant strives to deliver a reenactment of the various forms of entertainment available during the middle ages with great success.

Jesters entertain as you wait for your meal which is delivered by "actors" dressed in appropriate medieval style clothing for their position. One thing that may surprise you at this point is the silverware... where is it? You will not find forks, spoons, or knives to use during your meal. Remember, these instruments were not used during the Middle Ages. This is one meal you will eat with your hands.

There are currently seven Medieval Times Restaurant locations across the United States and one in Canada:

Buena Park, California
Dallas, Texas
Schaumburg, Illinois
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Kissimmee, Florida
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Hanover, Maryland in the Baltimore/ Washington D.C. Corridor
Toronto Ontario

If you get the chance you may want to visit a Medieval Times Restaurant, its certainly a heck of different experience than going out to eat at your local Applebee's or Steak 'n Shake!

Garfield Benjamin

New Medieval Forum Launching Soon!

2005-09-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the "Medieval Castles Information" Blog!

It is early Sunday afternoon as I sit down to write the first post for this week.

You may remember an earlier post I wrote about creating a medieval forum?

I was thinking of creating a medieval forum where visitors to my medieval blog and my medieval study website can share their views, information, and great online references for medieval topics.

I actually created the forum account back in the middle of June!

Finally, I have been able to take the time to start work on this new medieval forum and I hope to have it ready for launch by October 15th if not sooner.

You can get a sneak preview of this new medieval forum and register now. It is a good idea to complete the very simple registration process today so you will be all set up and ready to partipate once the forum officially opens.

I will try to keep you updated through this blog on the progress of the forum.

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin
About Medieval Castles & Medieval Siege Weapons!

Very Active Week for Medieval Blog!

2005-09-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Whew! This has been a very active week for this medieval blog!

I'm going to recap some of the topics covered since last Saturday just to log everything that was done.

Last Saturday I added an Audio Welcome Message to my Medieval Study website. To my knowledge I now have the first and only medieval website that "talks".

Monday, I summarized an interesting articles I came across called "Building a Medieval Castle with a Modern Interior" and I added several medieval images to my Medieval website.

Tuesday, I passed along the URL for a great website that will interest anyone who wants to know how to build a catapult. I also made the announcement that I would be creating a medieval screensaver.

Wednesday, I told you that I had released the medieval screensaver and because it is an exclusive for medieval newsletter subscribers, if you wanted to get this new screensaver you were invited to subscribe to my newsletter.

Thursday, I posted a reminder about the screensaver release as well as four screenshots from it.

Friday, I summarized two interesting articles I had found: the first article post was titled "Medieval History comes alive at Caldicot Castle" and the second article post was titled "English Heritage's New GuideBook Brings Goodrich Castle to Life". I also made a special announcement about Medieval Siege Alerts, the site newsletter for medieval-castle-siege-weapons.com and in a post titled "Increase Your Medieval Vocabulary!" I shared 5 medieval terms with you.

This morning (Saturday), I summarized another medieval article I had found. This was titled "Medieval Warhorse Alive and Well in 2005!".

Overall, I think we had a very active and interesting week here at the Medieval Castles Blog and I hope you are enjoying this blog, continue to visit it each week and tell a few of your friends about it.

Have a great weekend!

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Warhorse Alive and Well in 2005!

2005-09-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

I recently read an interesting article by Bill. E. Wabeke (American News Writer).

The article was about Goliath, the world's tallest living horse.

Goliath, who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, visited Runnings in Aberdeen and then was scheduled to visit the State Fair in Huron followed by a stop at Brookings.

Goliath is a Percheron which are bred to be tall. Generally speaking, Percherons are bigger and stronger than Clydesdales.

Percherons originally came from France where they served as medieval war horses used by medieval knights in battle.

Goliath did not actually come from France. He was born in 1992 in Alberta, Canada.

You can read the full article for more information.

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin
All About Medieval Knights

Increase Your Medieval Vocabulary!

2005-09-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Hi,

As you know it is very important to continually strive to expand our vocabularies.

Since we are interested in medieval times I thought I would share a few medieval terms with you this evening.

ABBEY
This is a monastic community of either monks or nuns. It is ruled by either an Abbot (male) or an Abbess (female).

ABBOT/ABBESS
They are the ruler of a monastic abbey. The abbot or abbess generally live in their own house located on the abbey's grounds where they eat and sleep apart from the rest of the community.

ALDERMAN
Most towns were divided into wards, and each ward had its own elected alderman to deal with the settlement of minor offences.

APOSTATE
This is the term used to describe a person who leaves religious orders after making a solemn profession. It is considered a serious crime in the eyes of The Church.

ASYLUM (aka Right of Sanctuary)
The right of an Abbot or Bishop to protect a fugitive from justice or to intercede on his behalf, provided the fugitive has fled to the altar of a church and claimed their right to sanctuary. Once asylum is granted the fugitive cannot be removed until after 40 days have passed.

That's it for now, I hope you found those interesting.

I will try to locate some medieval terms specific to medieval castles for a future post since I think those will fit in better with the primary focus of this blog.

Have a great night!

Garfield Benjamin
About Medieval Castles & Medieval Siege Weapons!

Medieval Newsletter Delivers Latest News Right to Your Inbox!

2005-09-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

www.Medieval-Castle-Siege-Weapons.com

Imagine what it would be like to receive interesting medieval related news and information delivered straight to your email inbox.

Instead of searching around to find new information you simply check your email and there is a new message telling you a great medieval website has been updated with new pages filled with interesting information on your favorite topics.

Medieval Siege Alerts is the site newsletter of www.medieval-castle-siege-weapons.com and is published from once or twice each month depending on how much information there is to share.

All subscribers to the newsletter get a free medieval screensaver just for signing up and can cancel their subscription at any time.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in receiving please click here to learn more about this great medieval newsletter.

Sincerely,

Garfield Benjamin

English Heritage's New GuideBook Brings Goodrich Castle to Life

2005-09-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I came across an interesting article about a new guidebook being released by English Heritage.

The article stated that English Heritage was releasing a new guidebook called The Guide to Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire.

The guide is one of the first publications from English Heritage using format and content that is more attractive and accessible than previous offerings, while at the same time maintaining the high standards of accuracy in reporting historical information.

Anyone interested in learning more about what some consider one of the country's finest medieval castles will enjoy information such as how the hall was built in the 12th Century as well as learning more about the histories of the Marshall, Valence and Talbot families.

Goodrich castle was largely rebuilt in the late 13th century and the guidebook contains many high quality images of Goodrich as it is today, and it also features artists' impressions of how the castle used to look.

The price for the guidebook has been set at £3.99

You can read the full story and visit the English Heritage website for more information.

Please note that both links will open the websites in a new window. If you have a pop-up blocker running you may want to turn it off before you visit the sites and then you can turn your blocker back on again.

Have a great afternoon!

Garfield Benjamin
All About Medieval Castles
Free Medieval Screensaver

Medieval History comes alive at Caldicot Castle

2005-09-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

I came across another interesting news article this morning.

The article was about a new event that will be held at Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire in Wales on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 of September 2005.

The idea behind this event is to allow visitors to talk to people about their trades, watch them at work and even partipate.

For those interested in medieval castles, the Stone Mason of Caldicot Castle will be available to talk about the work that goes into maintaining a medieval castle.

Visitors will also be provided the opportunity to meet an armourer and find out about armour from the Middle Ages.

You can read the full story and visit the Caldicot Castle website for more information.

Please note that both links will open the websites in a new window. If you have a pop-up blocker running you may want to turn it off before you visit the sites and then you can turn your blocker back on again.

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin
All About Medieval Castles
Free Medieval Screensaver

Educational Medieval Screensaver Released Yesterday!

2005-09-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hi,

In case you missed my post here yesterday, I finished the educational medieval screensaver and made it available for download last night. Keep reading to find out how you can get this screensaver for free.

Now I just need to send an email to all of my subscribers and let them know they can download this free medieval screensaver!

In case you are interested in seeing how it turned it, here is the same screenshot I posted yesterday:

Those are actually four screenshots taken straight from this great new educational medieval screensaver. Simple (but certainly worth seeing) pictures and text allow you to learn more about the following medieval topics: medieval peasants, medieval castles, medieval blacksmiths and medieval knights.

Remember, this is an exclusive for subscribers to my medieval newsletter, so if you are reading this and want to get this free screensaver please subscribe to my newsletter!

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Screensaver Released!

2005-09-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Hi,

If you read my post yesterday you will remember that I had decided to create a "Medieval Screensaver" as a way to say "Thanks" to all of my newsletter subscribers.

Tonight, 32 hours after I made that post, I am proud to say the Medieval Screensaver is ready to be downloaded!

Here are four screenshots taken from the Medieval Screensaver.

This interesting and educational medieval screensaver provides information on medieval peasants, medieval castles, medieval blacksmiths and medieval knights. This is a great, stress-free way to learn more about these topics!

Because this is an exclusive for my subscribers (heck, it did not even exist until tonight!) the only way to get this great medieval screensaver is to subscribe to my newsletter.

After subscribing you will receive instructions on how to download your free screensaver.

Have a great night!

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Screensaver Coming!

2005-09-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This afternoon I was thinking of a way to reward the visitors to my website on medieval study.

I wanted to come up with something unique for my medieval website, you know something that visitors interested in medieval studies would enjoy. And something that would help them to remember my website.

I also had the following criteria:

* It has to be a digital product of some kind, something they can easily download and instantly use.

* It has to be something useful and interesting and perhaps even educational.

* It obviously has to focus on medieval information because it is intended for visitors to my website and these people are interested in "medieval study".

* It has to be something relatively simple to create. Something I can make in one or two days time.

After thinking for about 20 minutes I came up with what I consider a perfect idea for this new digital product.

The MCSW - Simple Medieval Study Screensaver #1

I don't want to give out all the details here on my blog because I know some people will try to quickly come out with the same product before I do but I will say this is something I have never seen before. I have seen similiar screensavers sure but nothing exactly like this!

This afternoon I started work on the screensaver and I hope to release it either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday.

If you want to get this great new screensaver when it is released please subscribe to my site newsletter.

I will be sending out a message to my subscribers as soon as the screensaver is ready for download.

That's it for now!

Garfield Benjamin

How to build a catapult - check out this website!

2005-09-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Today, I want to tell you about a great website I found.

Just click on any of the links that interest you to visit the website.

Do you want to know "how to build a catapult"?

Or would you prefer learning "how to build a trebuchet?"

Whatever style of medieval siege weapon you are interested in building, this great site will interest you!

This company provides complete kits allowing you to build a medieval siege weapon easier than you may have ever imagined was possible.

Just look at some of the great kits they offer:

The "Tabletop Trebuchet"

The "PETRARIA" (a medieval ballista)

The "Mighty Roman Mangonel"

The "Mini Desktop Trebuchet"

Whether you are looking to make a huge monster of a siege weapon or a minature tabletop version is more to your liking I encourage you to check out this site now.

NOTE: If you decide to buy a kit and build a medieval siege weapon, please realize I cannot and will NOT be held responsible for any accident, propery damages, personal injuries or any other misfortunes that may arise!

Sorry about having to mention that but it is a sad fact these days way too many people are lawsuit happy thinking of it as an alternative to playing the lottery.

Best wishes,

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Pictures Added to Medieval Times Website!

2005-09-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I spent a few hours going through some Clip art and Images CDs I bought years ago.

I was looking for some medieval clipart or other medieval images I could add to my medieval website.

I am not sure about you but when I browse through hundreds (or was it thousands?!) of pictures it often seems like a ton of work to find what you are looking for.

You can check out the following pages to see some of these new medieval pictures that have been added to the site.

First, I added two pictures to the medieval blacksmiths page.Now, keep in mind, these pictures are simple but I think the simple style actually does a lot to complement the subject matter.

Next, I added a picture of an early medieval knight to the main medieval knights page. In case you forgot, this is the page that serves as an index to all of the other pages on the site that provide information on medieval knights.

From there, I worked on the medieval knight weapons page,adding a picture of a medieval knight holding a sword and carrying a shield.

Next, I added a picture of an early medieval castle surrounded by a thick wall to the main medieval castle page. This page, like the main medieval knights page I mentioned earlier, serves as an index to all of the other pages on the site that provide information on medieval castles.

Finally, I added a picture of a medieval castle to the home page of my medieval times website. To view this image you will need to scroll down a bit. It is located just to the right of audio player that provides my audio welcome message (yes, this may well be the first talking medieval website).

I plan on adding more medieval pictures this week and I will post on this blog when they are ready for viewing.

That's it for now!

Garfield Benjamin

Building a Medieval Castle with a Modern Interior?

2005-09-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend I came across a very interesting article for those of us who are interested in medieval castles!

The article talks about the goal of Tiramani, a native of Castell'Arquato, to build a castle from the the Middle Ages.

This castle is planned to have an exterior right out of the Middle Ages while the interior will be completely 21st century style.

Part of the construction process calls for a central tower 44 feet tall, with lancet armament windows, and an immense gated entry to dominate the scene.

Vines will be added to help "age" the appearance and the addition of an industrial ladder cage will be placed inside the tower allowing brave souls to venture up for a complete area view around the medieval castle.

For those who are not familiar with Castell'Arquato, it is a fortified medieval hilltop town located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northeastern Italy.

This village, with a population of about 4,560 people, among other things is known for its architectural treasures and a 14th century medieval fortress called the Rocca Viscontea.

This is great medieval information and I encourage you to read the full story now.

Have a great day!

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Website that Talks!

2005-09-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I added an audio welcome message to my medieval times website.

I have encountered other websites in the past that feature an audio message but I never thought much about adding one to my site.

As far as I know I now have the first and only "medieval times" website featuring an audio welcome message on the home page for visitors to listen to.

Okay, so it is nothing fancy, just listening to me welcome you to my medieval times site but I still think it is different and helps set my medieval site apart from others.

Have a great weekend!

Garfield Benjamin

Medieval Website Navigation Bar has been updated

2005-09-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to update the navigation bar on my medieval information website by removing the Dungeons & Dragons and Lord of the Rings buttons.

The reason is that from looking at my traffic statistics it appeared people were not coming to the site to read about Dungeons & Dragons or Lord of the Rings.

However, there is still some interest in these topics by visitors who are coming to the site to learn about medieval siege weapons and medieval castles so the D&D and LOTR pages still exist on the site, I only removed them from the graphical navigation bar.

One benefit of this is the pages should load a bit faster now since there are 2 less buttons than before!

Garfield Benjamin

New look for medieval website

2005-09-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have updated my medieval website Medieval Castles - Medieval Siege Weapons - Medieval Armor and More with a new look that I think is much easier on the eyes.

Please feel free to check it out and let me know what you think!

I really want this to be one of the top 10 websites for high quality medieval information!

Happy Labor Day!

Garfield Benjamin

Some Great Medieval Websites!

2005-08-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

Today I want to share some excellent medieval websites with you.

These are sites I have found to be very informative and easy to navigate.

European Medieval Castles Design
A high-quality medieval website filled with information on European Medieval Castles with emphasis placed on the various architecture and castle design styles.

Castles of Britain
Another high-quality medieval website filled with information on the great castles of Britain. Has many sections including (my favorites) the Castle Learning Center, Castle Ghosts, and the Castle of the Month sections.

Medieval Crusades
A very nice site focusing on the Medieval Crusades with information on the Church, the Kings of Jerusalem, the Foes of the Crusaders, and Coins of the Crusades.

Guide to Castles of Europe
Visit some of Europe’s most picturesque, mysterious and notorious castles and unravel the history, legends, and myths behind celebrated and not so renowned castles.

Enjoy the sites!

Garfield Benjamin
All About Medieval Castles and Medieval Siege Weapons

Medieval Castle Information

2005-08-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

Just a short post this morning.

I have been spending time overhauling my medieval information site the past couple of months.

Hopefully, the new navigation will make using the site easier for everyone.

There is a lot of information on medieval castles on the site so if you are reading this blog and have not visited the site please do so and let me know what you think.

Whether you are looking for information on how to build a medieval castle or you are interested in learning about the history of medieval castles you will find some very interesting reading on the site.

I'm thinking of setting up a medieval forum where people who share my interest in medieval castles can share their views. I'm not sure exactly when I will do this but I'd like to get one up and running sometime within the next 2 or 3 months.

That's it for now. I will try to post again later this week.

Medieval Castles Information Blog Launches!

2005-08-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Today I decided to start a new blog focusing on medieval castles.

My website at All About Medieval Castles & Medieval Siege Weapons contains a lot of information on medieval castles so I recommend that you check it out.

If you'd rather, you can visit the main Medieval Castles page. This is an index of Medieval Castle articles on the site.

I will try to post to this blog at least once per week but sometimes I might post 3 or 4 times per week and other times I may go 2 or 3 weeks between posts. It all depends on how busy I am and how much I have to share with the world.

Garfield Benjamin
Medieval Castles - Medieval Siege Weapons - Medieval Weapons - Medieval Armor