Forts
Forts
A fort is a military stronghold designed to protect an area from enemy attacks. Forts have been used throughout history as strategic defensive structures, typically featuring high walls, towers, and other defenses to ward off potential invaders. Some forts were also used as administrative centers or trading posts in addition to their military functions.
Types of Forts:
- Castles: Fortified structures often associated with medieval Europe, built by nobility for defense and residence.
- Citadels: Strong fortresses within a city, used as a final defensive position in times of siege.
- Star Forts: Forts with a distinctive star-shaped design, popular during the 15th to 18th centuries for their improved defense capabilities.
Common Features of Forts:
- Moats: Trenches filled with water surrounding a fort to impede attackers.
- Ramparts: Defensive walls or barriers along the outer edges of the fort.
- Watchtowers: Tall structures for surveillance and defense, often placed at strategic points along the forts perimeter.
- Gatehouses: Entrances to the fort, heavily fortified and often featuring drawbridges.