Alfred thayer mahan, published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 in 1890. Alfred thayer mahans book the influence of sea power upon. Was it a historical book, or did it also discuss recommended strategy. Kaiser williams is said to have devoured this book, and it was avidly read by presidents including both roosevelts, kings, prime. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. What is the historical significance of alfred thayer mahan. History was highly influential because it altered the strategy and. Mahans the influence of sea power upon history in 1890, outlined and argued that three factors were crucial to the united states rise to the position.
The influence of sea power upon history military wiki fandom. Tearing through new yorks astor library and lyceum of natural history en route to newport, he put together a pair of lectures for the naval war college. 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. In it he examines what factors lead to supremacy of the seas, focusing heavily on how britain rose to imperial dominance through the development of its navy. Influence of sea power upon history 16601783 abridged and influence of sea power upon the french revolution 17931812 excerpts capt. 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. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 dover. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 by alfred. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. It would be one of the most influential tomes ever published in america. 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. He had written, at the suggestion of a publishing firm, a volume on the navy in the civil war and a life of admiral farragut, both comparatively perfunctory tasks. 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 1800 s and early 1900 s.
In this book he argued for the paramount importance of. Mahan published the influence of sea power upon history. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 kindle edition by mahan, a. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by at mahan. While perhaps not as well known as books like the communist manifesto or the republic, captain alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history changed the course of naval history.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by mahan. Background in 1904, while mahan was continuing to author books, the scholar halford mackinder presented to the british royal geographical society his view that the era of 400 years of sea power influence was drawing to a close, and that an era of. Aug 07, 2017 the influence of sea power upon history was not the beginning of captain mahans literary career. His book made mahan an instant celebrity in naval circles. Nov 03, 2016 buy influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 illustrated illustrated by mahan, alfred thayer isbn.
This is one of those unknown enormously influential books in history. In his seminal the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890, he wrote that, due to new fighting systems, from time to time the structure of tactics has to. Alfred thayer mahan s the influence of sea power upon history was a huge success in both america and overseas. His book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 won immediate recognition, especially in europe, and with. This highly influential volume, first published in 1890, contains. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In 1890, naval expert alfred thayer mahan authored a wellregarded and timeless book, the influence of sea power upon. Was rear admiral mahans book the influence of sea power.
Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer and lecturer. Alfred thayer mahans at the time of original publication mahan was a captain the influence of sea power upon history was and perhaps remains, the single most influential book ever written by an american. Mahans lecture notes become the basis for his book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. Review of mahans the influence of sea power upon history theodore roosevelt october 1890. 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.
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 empire. Mahan wanted to show that navies decided wars, even between land powers, and many powerful and influential people listened. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 ebook. Was rear admiral mahans book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 really very influential on world powers, and if so why. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by a. It was not so much a history book as a book about sea power, of the naval type, and its influence on history. Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4921 ratings. 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, 16601783 work by. Jul 19, 2016 the historical significance of sea power has been long since established.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work. Have heard about this book for years, especially when on exchange duty with the united states navy. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. Consider by scholars as the single most influential book in naval strategy, alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history. This lesson has been designed to provide you with a summary of alfred mahan s the influence of sea power upon history, including its impact modern history and naval thought.
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. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 dover military history. The influence of sea power upon history 16601783 by alfred. Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. Understand it is part of officer training required reading.
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. You could easily write a recursive book about the influence of the influence of sea power upon history upon history. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Influence upon foreign nations yet mahans influence was not restricted to the united states. His core argument was that sea power was the key to empirebuilding. Mahans writings and lectures greatly influenced theodore roosevelt, henry cabot lodge, and other world leaders, including german emperor wilhelm ii, shaping global policy based on sea power at the beginning of the 20th century. These coming struggles were likely to produce dramatic shifts in the power balances among the great powers. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of. Alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power upon history alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism.
Alfred thayer mahan made perhaps too much of the influence on tactics of technological progress. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Cambridge core regional history after 1500 the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by a. Review of mahans the influence of sea power upon history. Thayer mahans most famous book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 by. Have read and reread the book, its suprising that it takes an american naval captain to encapsulate british royal naval history.
The major writings of a t mahan are his two volume work on the royal navy and the french revolution and napoleonic wars. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. Influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 illustrated. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won immediate recognition abroad. Mahans first book, published in 1890, was about 600 pages and included 30 illustrations maps and plans, or trackcharts, of sea battles, and can be downloaded from project. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. His book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 won immediate recognition. I would only recommend this book to those highly interested in mahan or his.
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