Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe: An Illustrated HistoryDuring the Middle Ages, castles and other fortified buildings were a common feature of the European landscape. As central powers rose and fell, the insecurity of the times inspired a revival of fortifications first introduced in the Roman Empire. Despite limitations in construction techniques and manpower, medieval fortifications were continuously adapted to meet new political circumstances and weapons technology. Here is an illustrated guide to the architecture of medieval fortifications, from the first castles to the fortified cities of the 15th and 16th centuries. In hundreds of detailed and thoroughly researched pen-and-ink drawings, historian and artist Jean-Denis G. G. Lepage introduces the reader to the development and diversity of European medieval military architecture. Each drawing is accompanied by meticulous descriptions of types of buildings (e.g., motte-and-bailey castles), built-in defenses (arrow slits, pepper-pot towers), and particular castles and cities (the Mont-Saint-Michel, the city of Jerusalem). Elements of medieval warfare and weaponry are also covered in drawings and text. |
Contents
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vi | |
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2The Revival of Military Architecture from the 10th to the 12th Centuries | 28 |
3The Evolution and Apogee of Medieval Castles in the 13th and 14th Centuries | 107 |
4Transitional Fortifications in the 15th and 16th Centuries | 178 |
Other editions - View all
Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe: An Illustrated History Jean-Denis Lepage No preview available - 2002 |