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.
reach: rather globalhistorymilitarynaval warfarenavysea battlesshipstechnology
Answers by country
to have better view
to manage the deck more easily
to improve ship defense
to improve ship stability
answers
Egypt13
Austria10
Germany116
the Netherlands38
Greece24
South Africa12
Republic of Ireland25
Israel10
Canada39
New Zealand71
Singapore11
Poland17380
the United Kingdom234
Australia48
Sweden15
the United States547
France11
India135
the Philippines27
Unknown16