Forts and fortifications

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fortress”? Is it the fortified camp of Roman legions, the high, strong walls of a medieval castle, a baroque fortress with bastions and ravelins, or the concrete bunkers of border fortifications? The history of fortifications and siege warfare is an inseparable part of the history of war, which in turn represents a significant part of human history: and like any specialised field, this one also has its own terminology. In the case of fortifications, these are terms that have evolved over centuries and have been subject to various influences. They may not be as comprehensible today, even though we see the structures they describe all around us. So what exactly is a machicolation, an arsenal, a caponier, a cheval de frise, or a Frisian horse? How do you recognise a curtain wall, a donjon, or a flak tower? This lexicon of fortification terms is supplemented with illustrative drawings and an introductory summary study. Furthermore, for the Czech edition, an original section dedicated to the history of fortifications and sieges in our territory has been added.