Almost a thousand years ago, my 25th great grandfather started building castles in England. He had just invaded England from the Normandy region of France, where there existed a long history of villages containing a wide variety of skilled craftsman, farmers, metal workers, gentry and merchants. On land given by the King, walled environments protected families and workers needed by them from local raiders and foreign invaders.
Rewarding his supporters and the military elite who fought for him, William the Conqueror began two centuries of family rule and castle/church-building throughout Great Brittain. Later, upon his family's return from the Crusades, his castle-building accelerated in an attempt to strengthen the security of loyal troops and their families in an economically stratified society fearing foreigners.
American leaders presently making land use and housing development decisions are authorizing the construction of new social castles containing similar resources for the same reasons. Downtown condominium high-rise projects are including carriage, dining, clothier, guardian, and recreational resources.
