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This gave fortifications a star-shaped plan, with each point being a section of wall facing the attacker. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification A bastion is a pentagonal (five-sided) shape that points two faces towards the attacker and joins the curtain walls with two flanks. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification

The bastioned system used a geometric layout of ramparts that got rid of blind spots, with the bastion replacing the medieval tower. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification The size and shape of bastions were worked out from how far the defenders’ guns could fire. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification

Bastion: a low five-sided work sticking out from the main wall, made of two faces, two flanks and the gorge (the back, often left open). Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: glossary, Bastion

After metal cannonballs came into general use at the end of the 15th century, Italian engineers designed a new kind of defence: the bastioned system. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification Bastioned fortification was introduced and developed first by Italian and then Dutch engineers from the 16th century onwards. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Bastioned fortifications

Ravelin (or demi-lune): a defence in front of the curtain wall, surrounded by ditches. A triangular ravelin usually had two faces meeting at a sharp angle, and often protected the gate. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: glossary, Demi-lune or ravelin

Glacis: a gently sloping bank of earth running from the top of the covered way down to the natural ground in front of the fort. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: glossary, Glacis

Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban lived from 1633 to 1707 and was a military engineer of King Louis XIV. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Fortifications of Vauban The Vauban network says he built or developed no less than 165 works. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: History of the bastioned fortification

English Heritage calls Berwick’s defences the most complete bastioned town defences in England. English Heritage: Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts English Heritage calls Tilbury England’s best example of a 17th-century bastioned fortress. English Heritage: Tilbury Fort Historic Environment Scotland calls Fort George the finest example of 18th-century military engineering anywhere in the British Isles. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George, history

Goryokaku was the first Western-style fort in Japan, completed in 1864. Japan National Tourism Organization: Goryokaku Fort

Palmanova is known as the “star city” because of its nine-pointed star plan. italia.it: Palmanova Palmanova was founded by the Venetians in 1593, to defend their lands against the Habsburgs. italia.it: Palmanova

Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment and wrote the poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner”. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States in 1931. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry

You can walk the whole circuit of Berwick’s ramparts. English Heritage: Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts Some sections of Berwick’s ramparts have steep unguarded drops. English Heritage: Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts

KS2 also includes a study of an aspect or theme in British history that goes beyond 1066. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK) At KS3 pupils study the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509 to 1745. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK) The KS3 examples include the civil wars throughout Britain, the Restoration and the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (GOV.UK)