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Defensive walls were common from the ancient period into the medieval 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.
City walls were still occasionally used as late as the 19th century, although by this time they were generally of wood (rather than stone) construction and used only around small frontier settlements. City walls also had towers and were frequently surrounded by trenches.
The practice of building these massive walls had been developed sometime before the rise of the Sumerian Empire and was connected with the rise of city-states.
Often the walls proved impenetrable to attacking armies which then laid siege to the city.
Within walled cities, the poor and "noxious trades" were generally located near or outside the walls.
Canada
China
Croatia
- Dubrovnik has well-preserved city fortifications including towers, gate, rampart walk and two citadels guarding the docks.
- Stone walls built in 14th-16th century, at the isthmus of the Pelješac peninsula, to the north of Dubrovnik; 890 meters long town wall and 5 km Great Wall outside the town
- Karlovac city walls, built in 1579 as a six-point star with bastions.
France
Germany
Israel
Ireland
Middle East
- Jericho's Ancient City Walls - probably the most ancient stone wall ever discovered.
Morocco and Western Sahara
Philippines
- Intramuros - partially preserved, partially restored after WWII. Original walls are still on are well preserved.
- Fort San Pedro - in Cebu
- Fort San Antonio Abad - in Manila
- Fort Pillar- a Spanish defence fort in the island of Mindanao
Poland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
See also
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