The three Punic Wars lasted nearly 100 years, from 264BC to 146BC. They represented a struggle in the Mediterranean between the bludgeoning land power of Rome, bent on imperial conquest, and the great maritime power of Carthage. This is a comprehensive account of a complicated historical period.

The walls of Constantinople are the greatest surviving example of European medieval military architecture in the world. They withstood numerous sieges until being finally overcome by the artillery of Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453, and exist today as a time capsule of Byzantine and Medieval history. This book examines the main defensive system protecting the landward side of the city, which ...

A major period of westward expansion took place in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. The task of protecting the settlers from the Native American tribes that inhabited the Great Plains fell to the US Army, and to do this they constructed a network of permanent forts and temporary camps. By 1867, there were 116 forts and camps on the frontier, and 36 of these were on the

In all the stories told by mankind, the tale of the siege of Troy is perhaps the greatest secular story ever told. This book reveals the literary, historical and archaeological records which make up the background to the tale of Troy and describes in detail its fortifications.

The major fortresses of the Iberian peninsular controlled the most important routes in and out of the country. Their renovation included the adding of ravelins, bastions, curtains, and counterscarps. This work examines these fortifications, their design, development and strategic importance.