Question

Why were bastions made in the fort wall?

Answer 1

Hint:
- By 4 BCE, fortified cities in India were common. The largest were between the town of Mathura (on the river Yamuna) and Magadha (on the river Ganges).

- Another series of forts in the south was on the Ujjain (on the Narmada) which led into the Deccan. They are suggested by the remnants of defensive walls and bastions seen during the excavation at Rajagriha and at many sites in the Gangetic plain, especially Kaushambi.

Complete step by step solution:
Among a straight flat wall or a bastion at a height, the bastion will ensure better safety of fort and soldiers. It will also provide a better vantage point from where a larger area can be looked after, none of this would have been possible from a flat wall.

Bastions were made in the fort wall for following reasons:
1. Bastions were made in the fort wall to see from a distance to fight attackers approaching from many directions to the fort. Hence to ensure security of the fort.

2. Such rounded, high walls are also called defensive walls.

3. Big holes were made in them to increase the viewing area so that soldiers could watch and fire enemies from a distance, keeping themselves safe.

Note:
Three main techniques have been used for the building of ancient Indian forts.
1. The first consisted of terracotta ramparts. They were also made of sand that had been mined out of the ditch surrounding the fort.
2. The second of the earth's debris on the outside, which was heavier.
3. The third method of building was the work of stone and masonry. The last one was the best. Materials from abandoned forts have also been reused in the design of new forts