The word "castle" conjures up images ranging from the stone-towered fortresses of medieval Europe to huge royal dwellings that have never seen a clash of arms. In fact, the true castle has a long, far-ranging history that distinguishes it from the fort, the palace, and the mythical realms of Arthurian England. A fortified dwelling built for strategic purposes, its primary function was to deter aggression, and, failing that, to withstand a siege. First built by families and tribal groups, such fortified places on strategic sites grew in size and importance, eventually forming the nuclei of walled towns. Richly illustrated in full-color, with panoramic foldouts, revealing photographs, and schematic diagrams, Anatomy of the Castle traces the origins of this majestic stronghold from Iron Age hill forts to feudal kingdoms through the Crusader era, post-Medieval, and into early modern times, when longbows, battering rams, and catapults were replaced by cannon and mortar.-- Details all the key castle types, and includes examples from all over the world-- Features more than two hundred full-color photographs and four unique gatefolds-- Close-up details and specially commissioned diagrams illustrate the evolution of elements of the castle from dungeons to battlements