The abundance of castles in Europe is a direct result of the feudal system and the fragmented political landscape of the Middle Ages. Between the 9th and 15th centuries, Europe was not a collection of unified nations but a patchwork of small territories ruled by local lords, princes, and bishops who were frequently at war with one another. Castles served as essential defensive fortifications, providing a secure residence for the nobility and a place of refuge for the local population during raids. They were also powerful status symbols, built to project a lord's wealth and authority over the surrounding land. In regions like Germany (formerly the Holy Roman Empire), the lack of a strong central government meant that thousands of small-scale rulers built their own private fortresses to protect their interests and extract taxes from travelers. Furthermore, the Norman Conquest of 1066 triggered a "castle-building boom" in England and France as invaders sought to pacify hostile local populations. Over 800 years, this necessity for localized defense left behind the stone ruins and majestic palaces that define the European horizon today.