Part 4/14:
The reality of winter in the 14th century was brutal, exacerbated by the onset of the Little Ice Age—a period of sustained cold that profoundly impacted European civilization. Failed harvests, famine, and social upheaval characterized this era, yet it coincided with a wave of ambitious castle-building across the continent. The paradox: during a time of climatic adversity, nobles invested heavily in stone fortresses. The motive was not solely comfort but power; castles were symbols visible from miles away, designed to project authority and military strength above all.