Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Fortification
(3,798 words)

1. Period of experiments: 1400–1600

1.1. Definition

The primary purpose of building fortifications was to provide certain places, spaces, or territories with the ability to withstand enemy attacks. Their outward appearance itself was meant to diminish the inclination of the enemy to attack. In addition even in peacetime a fortress was a powerful symbol of authority, which had to be designed so as to be decoded in the context of contempora…

Cite this page
Hoppe, Stephan and Hohrath, Daniel, “Fortification”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 29 November 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_019219>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180126



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