ABSTRACT
The evolution of society and the city has been shaped by the strong desire to protect the individual, the community and its possessions from invasions by means of walls and fortifications. The concept of a defensive infrastructure was very different in Çatalhöyük, where the continuous and shared blank walls of the Anatolian houses formed an economical and unique fusion of the urban fabric with the settlement's protection. The infrastructure protected Athens and its democracy whilst providing security of resources. Larger cities protected themselves with double, and occasionally triple, wall circuits. When the enemies breached through the city walls, the inhabitants would seek protection in the fortified tower-houses. Between bouts of violence, cities needed to protect their rights of tollage and to control access to their markets; often customs boundaries corresponded with the city walls. The inhabitable infrastructure of the 'Queen' protects Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the spirit of her people.
