Why in the past were European ships built with high wooden "castles" fore and aft?

to have better view
to manage the deck more easily
to improve ship defense
to improve ship stability
These were built to better resist boarding, commonly used in the naval warfare (especially by pirates). Boarders needed to attack these castles with great difficulty, while archers or harquebusiers could sweep the enemy decks.
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Answers by country

to have better view
to manage the deck more easily
to improve ship defense
to improve ship stability
answers
flagEgypt
15%
0%
76%
7%
13
flagAustria
10%
10%
70%
10%
10
flagGreece
4%
4%
68%
22%
22
flagGermany
15%
3%
65%
15%
113
flagthe Netherlands
5%
13%
62%
18%
37
flagCzech Republic
20%
0%
60%
20%
10
flagSouth Africa
0%
25%
58%
16%
12
flagRepublic of Ireland
20%
16%
56%
8%
25
flagCanada
12%
7%
46%
28%
39
flagNew Zealand
16%
5%
45%
32%
71
flagSingapore
18%
9%
45%
27%
11
flagthe United Kingdom
16%
6%
42%
32%
229
flagAustralia
17%
6%
42%
31%
47
flagPoland
14%
10%
41%
31%
17323
flagSweden
13%
6%
40%
40%
15
flagthe United States
15%
9%
36%
35%
539
flagFrance
36%
9%
36%
18%
11
flagIndia
11%
15%
32%
37%
134
flagthe Philippines
18%
7%
25%
48%
27
flagUnknown
12%
12%
25%
50%
16