City Walls

Theessayspresentedinthisvolumedescribeaphenomenonsowidespreadinhumantimeandspacethatitsimportanceiseasilyoverlooked.Citywallsshapedthehistoryofwarfare;themobilisationofmanpowerandresourcesneededtobuildthemfavouredsomekindsofpolitiesoverothers;andtheirmassivestrength,appropriatelyornamented,createdavisuallanguageofauthority.PreviouscollectivevolumesonthesubjecthavedealtmainlywithEurope,butthehistoriansandarthistorianswhocollaborateherefollowacomparativeagenda.ThemillennialpracticeofwallbuildingthatbranchedoutfromtheancientNearEastintoIndia,Europe,andNorthAfricashowscontinuitiesandpointsofcontactofwhichthemakersofurbanfortificationswerescarcelyaware;separatetraditionsinChina,sub-SaharanAfrica,andNorthAmericaillustrateuniversalthemesofdefensivestrategyandthesymbolismofpower,eachtimeembeddedinadistinctivelocalcontext.