The land controlled by a noble was called a manor.
The manor included the manor house, or castle, a village, a church, and the surrounding fields. Kings and the most powerful lords lived in castles, along with some of the knights who fought for them. Castle-building began in the 800s. Early castles were made of wood, but starting around 1100, many castles were built or rebuilt with stone, because wooden ones burned down too easily. Later castles were more elaborate and comfortable than earlier ones. Even so, they had almost none of the comforts we associate with home, like lights and running water.
