Evolution of Defense Structures in Historical Process

Since the emergence of humankind, the need for shelter and sheltering has existed. Caves are believed to have been the earliest spatial manifestation of this phenomenon.^【1】During the Ancient Age, alongside the transition to settled life, various security measures began to be incorporated into design. The absence of windows and access via rooftops in Çatalhöyük’s mud-brick dwellings reflect early spatial manifestations of security concerns.^【2】During this period, underground settlements such as Derinkuyu Underground City were also utilized to protect against volcanic eruptions, natural disasters, religious and ethnic attacks, and raids.

With the establishment of modern cities in the Ancient Age, wars began to take place in battlefields distant from urban centers. As a result, cities ceased to be direct targets. Conquering civilizations, due to the length and difficulty of construction processes and the significance of cities in their cultural identity, transformed them rather than destroying them. This led to the formation of layered cultural structures. The city walls demonstrated a holistic approach aimed not only at protecting the population but also at preserving the values they held within their boundaries. City gates functioned as security checkpoints, regulating entry and exit to ensure security.^【3】

In the Middle Ages, as in the Ancient Age, the security of cities was maintained as a whole by walls and castles. The characteristic defensive feature of this era, the drawbridge, was added to castle gates. Protruding towers were incorporated to enhance the defensive capacity of castles, and moats dug around them established a physical boundary between the city and its surroundings. With the increased use of iron, thorny obstacles and gratings introduced a new dimension to the defense system.^【4】

With the widespread use of gunpowder in Europe, stone-walled defense systems were reinforced with obstructive elements such as ravelins and punji stakes. The advancement of weaponry necessitated the strengthening of defensive structures. The bastioned star-plan castle system developed by Leon Battista Alberti made defensive structures more resistant to attacks. This model, known as bastion fort or trace italienne, presents a comprehensive defense system consisting of star-shaped bastions, fortified walls, structures enclosed within them, and a central castle.^【5】

In the Modern Age, with the onset of World War I, which posed a mass threat to humanity, not only technological and political balances but also certain assumptions about the nature of war changed. This process removed war from being solely a phenomenon confined to battlefields and professional soldiers, integrating cities, civilian populations, and everyday life into the fabric of warfare. The subsequent World War II deepened the destructive impact of war. In this context, the concept of defense expanded beyond military strategy to encompass everyday life, and as a result, the concept of sheltering gained equal importance.