A typological evaluation of arrow slits among elements of military architecture in the medieval period

Abstract

Among the factors affecting the Middle Ages are military siege techniques and technological developments occurring in this area. The most important reason for such changes in military architecture was the invention of new technologies and techniques which were able to break down fortification walls. Technological developments brought about a series of innovations such as: the thickness of Medieval castle walls, forms of bastions, plans of castle gates and the emergence of elements of new military architecture, especially in castle gates. These changes continued into a new age with the development of gunpowder and cannons. Because of these technological innovations, in our study we shall try to examine the arrow slits which played an active role in passive defence during the Middle Ages, together with their presence on castle walls, gates and bastions with different forms of architecture.