Cambridge core regional history after 1500 the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by a. History was highly influential because it altered the strategy and. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Consider by scholars as the single most influential book in naval strategy, alfred thayer mahan s the influence of sea power upon history. In the book, the influence of sea power upon history, mahan claimed that countries with sea power were the great nations of history. The influence of sea power upon history appeared in 1890 and the influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire in 1892. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer and historian. Alfred thayer mahan s most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660.
These coming struggles were likely to produce dramatic shifts in the power balances among the great powers. Influence sea power upon history 1660 1783, first edition. Its no exaggeration that the influence of seapower upon history affected the outcome of both great world wars. The book carried the grand title the influence of sea power upon history 16601783 and its author was a shy united states naval officerturned war college professor named alfred thayer mahan. What is the historical significance of alfred thayer mahan. This is one of those unknown enormously influential books in history. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer, considered one of the most important naval strategists of the nineteenth century. Alfred thayer mahan s book the influence of sea power upon. Navy this was created in order to initiate trade in certain sections of china between european nations, america and china. Sea power upon history, 16601783 classic reprint alfred thayer mahan. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 ebook written by alfred t. It details the role of sea power during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and discussed the various factors needed to support and achieve sea power, with emphasis on having the largest and most powerful fleet. It details the role of sea power during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and discusses the various factors needed to support and achieve sea power, with emphasis on having the largest and most powerful fleet. Kaiser wilhelm is said to have devoured this book, and it was avidly read by.
Mahan identified six main factors which influence the naval power of the state. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by mahan. In 1890, captain alfred thayer mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the president of the united states naval war college, published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, a revolutionary analysis of the importance of naval power as a factor in the rise of the british. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601805 alfred thayer mahan on. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by a. These works made alfred thayer mahan one of the leading spokesmen for the age of imperialism. Mahan book the influence of sea power upon history helped push the united states toward a position of world power by convincing government officials to strengthen the u. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 by. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. The book earned mahan critical acclaim immediately, and it remains an.
The influence of seapower upon history by alfred t. Out of these lectures grew a book that would change the world. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 by alfred. Alfred thayer mahans at the time of original publication mahan was a. The naval officer in question is alfred thayer mahan 18401914 who, in 1890, published the results of his extensive study of history, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on naval. In alfred thayer mahan his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Focusing primarily on englands rise as a sea power in the eighteenth century, the book provides not only an overview of naval tactics, but a lucid exposition of. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won immediate recognition abroad. In his book the influence of sea power upon history 1890. In the usually recap of mahan famous book the major points in the influence. Mahan published a book entitled the influence of sea power upon history in which he emphasized the importance of naval power in maintaining national strength. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 classic. Alfred thayer mahan books list of books by author alfred. Mahan in his book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, published in 1890, was eagerly accepted by the united states, great britain, germany, and other modern industrial states in the decades before world war i. Mahan was a naval officer and historian whose writings were avidly studied in these. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 was published in 1890, chronicles the history of naval warfare, with a particular emphasis on the role and significance that sea power held. Alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism.
Mahan came to the conclusion that the one who owns the sea possesses all mahan a. His lectures at the college formed the basis for his two major works, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, published in 1890, and the influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire, 17931812, published two years later. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. He argued that a nation, in order to have a strong navy, must have ports and colonies throughout the world where their fleet could anchor safely. Pdf mahan on naval strategy download full pdf book. When it was first published in 1890, prime ministers, kings, admirals, and chancellors eagerly studied its strategies, which england first employed to rule the seas. Alfred thayer mahans at the time of original publication mahan. Captain mahan has written distinctively the best and most important, and also by far the most interesting. His book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 won immediate recognition, especially in europe, and with its successor, the influence of sea power upon.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 was published. His core argument was that sea power was the key to empirebuilding. In 1890, naval expert alfred thayer mahan authored a wellregarded and timeless book, the influence of sea power upon. Mahan s lecture notes become the basis for his book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 dover. Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4901 ratings. The influence of sea power upon history 1890 alfred thayer. In the forward to his book, mahan set forth his purpose to examine the general history of europe and america with particular reference to the effect. As the author of numerous articles and books, including the landmark the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, alfred thayer mahan was widely regarded as a brilliant naval theorist. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, some principles of maritime strategy, command of the air, winged defense roots of strategy by david jablonsky and a great selection of related books. These struggles for world power and naval mastery were viewed by mahan as a twentiethcentury replay of the wars that he had described in his volumes on the influence of sea power upon history. Considering sea power as the most important factor in the formation of world domination, a. Alfred thayer mahan was influential in helping to buildup naval defenses before world war i. His concept of sea power was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide impact. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by at mahan. Mahan served twice as president of the college, 1886 to 1889 and 1892 to 1893. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by alfred thayer mahan. Buy influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 illustrated illustrated by mahan, alfred thayer isbn. In 1885 he was appointed lecturer in naval history and tactics at the us. Mahan s thesis that for an nation to be great it had to be a sea power was immensely influential in the growth of the german navy prior to world war 1 and the expansion of the us into overseas areas in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The book earned mahan critical acclaim immediately, and it remains an influential work of naval strategy amongst scholars today.
From his writings, readers would never have guessed, however, that the renowned champion of the united states navy hated the sea, and while an activeduty. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 was written by the experienced naval. Geographical society his view that the era of 400 years of sea power influence was drawing to a close, and that an era of industrialization, railways, agriculture, mining and investment 1 alfred t mahan, the influence of sea power upon history 16601783 boston. The influence of seapower upon history audiobook by. September 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states naval officer and historian, whom john keegan called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. See all books authored by alfred thayer mahan, including the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, and the influence of sea power upon history 16601805, and more on. Mahan s scholarly effort, in preparation for a teaching assignment at the naval war. He emphasized the importance of sea power and was inspirational in establishing navies around the world. Alfred thayer mahan s the influence of sea power upon history was a huge success in both america and overseas. Well sometimes a classic is book that is good to own, but not to read. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 book. Publication date 1918 publisher little, brown and company.
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