Cannons destroyed even the most magnificent castles, shattering towers, breaching walls, and collapsing the arms race, until a new style of fortress emerged. Star forts sit low to the ground and rely on extensive earthworks to absorb the impact of cannons, and angled, pointy walls to deflect cannonballs fired from any direction.

Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evoluti…, loc. 973