Defensive space
Introduction
The division of a geographical space through a material construction, exercising some type of control over the things or people that cross that division, is known as a security wall. The generally stated objective is to maintain the security of one of the two new spaces generated. The practice of erecting these walls as control barriers has sparked strong criticism among those affected and detractors, who often call these facilities Wall of Shame.
Walls in history
Since ancient times, walls and walls were built mainly to stop the passage of armed invading groups or armies. Examples of this would be the Great Wall of China or Hadrian's Wall. However, with the evolution of military technology, defensive walls became sophisticated constructions and in some cases offered defense very effectively. The most successful example is the set of walls that surrounded the city of Constantinople, built in 412 by the Roman emperor Theodosius II. This fortification had a length of 6.5 kilometers, with a triple line of parapets and would be known as the Theodosian Wall. This set of walls remained impregnable for ten centuries and withstood numerous assaults, until 1453, when the Ottomans were finally successful. The combination of a small defending force and new advances in military technology (the gunpowder cannons that accompanied the Ottoman army) caused the fall of the city. The last defensive wall that was part of a military confrontation was the Danevirke on the German-Danish border, in the south of the Jutland peninsula, during the Duchy War of 1864, but without any success.
The subsequent invention of military airplanes, long-range artillery and missiles turned defensive walls into completely useless objects from a military point of view, as evidenced by the Siegfried and Maginot lines during World War II.
Since then, modern walls have been built to prevent or hinder the passage of civilians and not of armies organized in battle or to enshrine the annexation of territories on borders not recognized by the international community. It is argued that civilians suffer a feeling of shameful helplessness when they are isolated and segregated from their families and communities for mainly economic, ideological and religious reasons. The builders and their sympathizers never officially accept this adjective nor do they believe that it can cause any type of psychological damage, much less shame; Instead, they often justify them by citing security reasons.