Defensive wall

Defensive walls were used to enclose settlements from prehistory into the modern period. Generally, these are referred to as city walls or town walls, although there were also walls, such as the Great Wall of China and the Atlantic Wall, which extended far beyond the borders of a city and were used to enclose vast regions.

Related Topics:
Wall - Great Wall of China - Atlantic Wall - City

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Many town walls were supplemented with towers and were frequently surrounded by dry ditches or wet moats. The most important and expensive components of town walls were the gates.

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The practice of building these massive walls, though having its origins in prehistory, was refined during the rise of city-states, and energetic wall-building continued into the medieval period and beyond in certain parts of Europe.

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Often the walls proved impenetrable to attacking armies which then laid siege to the city. Nonetheless, walls also had a number of important non-military functions. They symbolised the wealth and prestige of communities, served as barriers against disease and 'low level' types of threat and were valued by citizens as perambulations, while gates acted as toll-collection points and were often showpieces of municipal pride. Within walled cities, the poor and "noxious trades" were generally located near or outside the walls.

Related Topics:
Armies - Siege

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