Lima City Walls
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The Lima City Walls in Peru form a complex of walls, moats, towers and cannons built during the Spanish colonial regime to protect Lima against attacks from pirates and privateers in the 16th and 17th centuries.
[edit] Introduction
Before the establishment of centralized governments capable of supporting strong, national armies, individual cities were left to fend for themselves when it came to defense. As a result, many cities constructed city walls to protect against raiders and bandits. City walls represented a major investment in both time and materials, requiring years to complete and constant repairs to maintain their strength and integrity. However, these walls turned the city into a fortress capable of withstanding all but the most determined attack.