Religion has always been a reason to do battle, or so it seems. The Crusaders (mainly European Christians) went to ‘rescue’ the Holy Lands from infidel (Islamic) forces. Then they built fortresses to defend the lands they had ‘rescued’. Naturally these fortresses were built somewhere high up with views of the surrounding country. At one time a line of them stretched from the Red Sea as far as Turkey, used for trade and to collect taxes from the passing caravans. Karak castle is everything you would expect: it dominates the hill overlooking the ancient town, with a keep and a moat. Inside there are tunnels, a church and store rooms to house an army for a siege. It’s a ruin today, but still sends out a powerful message.

Ajloun and Shobak castles are less impressive. Ajloun was built nearly 1000 years ago and sits high up above the town. It was one in a chain of beacons and pigeon posts used to transmit messages from Damascus to Cairo. Think of it as a very early communication hub! Shobak is a total ruin, although its ramparts allegedly overlook the plain that was home to the towns of Sodom and Gomorah. There is also secret tunnel that descends over 100 meters within the rock to a subterranean spring. Thanks, but no thanks! I’ll take their word for it.