Castles
There were no new castles built in the Elizabethan Era for several reasons. First, there was the decline of the feudal system. Since, the wealthy class was less distinct, there was less of a need for grand castles to display their wealth. In addition, the creation of new weapon technology such as firearms and cannons made castles an easy target. For this reason, the castle was then replaced with the “palace,” a large or splendid residence. Palaces differ from castles because they are built for protection and defense purposes, while castles are built to showcase wealth and power. The crenellations featured in medieval castles were no longer included for practical defensive or offensive reasons. Elizabethan mansions accentuate comfort and luxury, not dominance or power. Only with the permission of the reigning monarch were the wealthy allowed to build artificial crenellations purely for show in their private houses.
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Upper class men's mansions followed a similar renaissance style of Elizabethan architecture. Stone and expensive bricks were used for durability and appearance in the wealthy’s mansions, and were heavily influenced by classic Greek and Roman architecture since it was so greatly admired by the Elizabethans. Often lavish columns framed the entrances of many great Elizabethan houses and mansions. One of the most impressive
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