DICTIONARY OF FORTIFICATIONS: An Illustrated Glossary

Fortifications have become one of the foremost military arts and this book presents complex issues in both text and marvellous illustrations with overview drawings, close-up drawings, sections and even weapons providing a visual reinforcement of the text. This attractive and convenient reference covers castles, forts, walled cities and other defensive works from antiquity to the present day. Organised alphabetically from Abatis to Zwischenwiderstandnet, there are cross references to easily follow themes of interest. The heart of the book is a useful glossary of over 1,200 terms relating to fortifications through the ages and drawn from many languages besides English. It is a super overview of technical language and specialised terms developed in military architecture, divided into three parts - a chronological outline of the historical evolution of coastal, permanent and semi-permanent fortifications; the technical development of siege warfare, siege machines and tactics; and part three represents the bulk of the book, listed in alphabetical order, definition and descriptions of terms in the form of a short article with a cross section, map or artistic impression. Now you will be able to understand your Merlon (upstanding solid sections of a parapet wall) from your roadblocks (moveable steel beams held by concrete supports). With glossary, 340 large pages, fully illus.