The Muslim West / Defence

Walls, a defensive system in themselves.

Solid walls used as a defensive system were only vulnerable to assaults and undermining. They originally included small openings through which weapons could be fired, although these subsequently had to be enlarged to accommodate cannons. Tall towers flanked walled sections to defend against assaults, and a range of devices were used to hinder attackers: isolated albarrana towers standing outside (but connected to) the walls, a barbican wall running parallel to the main wall, but thinner and lower than it, a ditch between the two, and finally a gateway protected by towers which, from the 5th/11th century, included a dogleg entrance that forced attackers to make a right-angled turn.


NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Bab RwahFinished in Hegira 593 / AD 1197AlmohadRabat, MoroccoConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Bab RwahFinished in Hegira 593 / AD 1197AlmohadRabat, MoroccoConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
Badajoz Citadel and the Espantaperros TowerHegira 564–5 / AD 1168–70AlmohadBadajoz, SpainConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Badajoz Citadel and the Espantaperros TowerHegira 564–5 / AD 1168–70AlmohadBadajoz, SpainConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
Badajoz Citadel and the Espantaperros TowerHegira 564–5 / AD 1168–70AlmohadBadajoz, SpainConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
Castle of MouraHegira 2nd–3rd century / AD 8th/9th – 13th centuryUmayyad, early Taifa, Almoravid, AlmohadMoura, Beja, PortugalConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Castle of MouraHegira 2nd–3rd century / AD 8th/9th – 13th centuryUmayyad, early Taifa, Almoravid, AlmohadMoura, Beja, PortugalConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
Castle of MouraHegira 2nd–3rd century / AD 8th/9th – 13th centuryUmayyad, early Taifa, Almoravid, AlmohadMoura, Beja, PortugalConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
Mahdiyya KasbahHegira 6th / AD 12th century; Hegira 11th / AD 17th centuryAlmohad; AlawidMahdiyya, MoroccoConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Mahdiyya KasbahHegira 6th / AD 12th century; Hegira 11th / AD 17th centuryAlmohad; AlawidMahdiyya, MoroccoConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.
Mahdiyya KasbahHegira 6th / AD 12th century; Hegira 11th / AD 17th centuryAlmohad; AlawidMahdiyya, MoroccoConsisting essentially of walled sections, battlements, towers and dogleg entrances, the wall offered a range of defensive options.