Siege
A military operation where an army surrounds a city or fort to cut off supplies and force it to surrender.
What is it?
A siege is when one army surrounds a city or fortress to stop food, water, and other supplies from getting in. The goal is to make the people inside give up. Sieges can last for months or even years. During the Siege of Paris (1870-1871), the Prussian army surrounded Paris, and people inside suffered from hunger and cold. Many artworks show sieges to tell the story of the people's suffering.
Why it matters
Sieges are important in history because they often decide the outcome of wars. Understanding sieges helps you understand how wars were fought in the past.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more exhibits about sieges.