How were castles attacked and defended?

The main methods of attacking a Medieval Castle were:

• Fire: Was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood.
• Battering Rams: The thick stone walls of the Stone Keep castles were difficult for men to knock down.
• Ladders: Ladders were used by those attacking a castle to climb over the walls and fight the castle inhabitants within the castle walls.
• Catapults: A variety of catapults or siege engines were developed during the Middle Ages to fire stones, fireballs or other objects such as dead sheep, cattle, or plague victims, at the castle walls or into the castle itself.
• Mining: A good way of attacking a stone castle was through mining. Attackers would dig a tunnel underground up to the castle walls, under the gatehouse if possible. They would then set a charge and make an explosion which would make the walls crumble and collapse. The advantage of mining was that the attack could not be seen by those living in the castle. However, if those inside the castle were aware that attackers were mining underground, they would often mine from the castle to meet the attackers underground and there would be a sword battle.
• Siege: Another good way of attacking a stone castle was by placing it under siege. Attackers would surround a castle with both men and catapults so that no one could enter or leave the castle.