The Archaeology of Medieval Spain, 1100-1500 - Magdalena Valor
Castles and Fortifications
The Archaeology of Medieval Spain, 1100-1500 - Magdalena Valor
Avelino Gutiérrez [+]
University of Oviedo
Magdalena Valor [+]
University of Seville
Description
The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. This chapter is concerned with castles, fortified places and town walls, their forms, purposes and effects. Castles and palaces as centres of authority and power are considered further in Chapter 8. These two chapters should therefore be taken together.