Ancient Origins of Fortifications
The first forts were simple enclosures built to protect settlements against raiders and wild animals. Archaeological evidence suggests that as early as 6,000 BCE, communities in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley used walled compounds with watchtowers. These embryonic forts were more than defenses; they were symbols of emerging statehood. Jericho, often described as the oldest known fortified city, featured stone walls and a defensive tower around 8,000 BCE.
In Egypt, fortresses were placed along the Nile to secure borders, while in China, walled citadels evolved into the monumental fortifications that would culminate in the Great Wall. In Europe, Celtic hillforts dotted landscapes, commanding valleys and trade routes. Their earthen ramparts, palisades, and ditches showcased how geography and engineering merged to provide security. Thus, the idea of the fort was inseparable from the development of civilization itself. shutdown123