What Strategic Costs Resulted from Abandoning Fortified Settlements? Throughout history, fortified settlements—walled cities, hill forts, citadels, and castles—served as the backbone of political authority and military defense. From the massive walls of Constantinople to medieval strongholds like Carcassonne, fortifications were not just physical barriers; they symbolized power, stability, and security. … Continue reading What strategic costs resulted from abandoning fortified settlements?