He also argued that strong nations should seek friendly ports, colonies, and territories abroad to use as naval bases and as commercial outlets. Miller robert darnton eric foner in this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. Alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power upon history. Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on naval warfare. His book made mahan an instant celebrity in naval circles. 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. While perhaps not as well known as books like the communist manifesto or the republic, captain alfred thayer mahan s the influence of sea power upon history changed the course of. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. Mahan also believed that america should at least acquire defensive bases in the caribbean and the pacific and take.
Mahan served twice as president of the college, 1886 to 1889 and 1892 to 1893. He wrote a great book about the use of sea power for militaryeconomic domination. It is said that it sold more copies on military theory than all of its predecessors including clausewitz combined. Few, then or now, have any doubt as to the huge impact alfred thayer mahan s classic the influence of sea power upon history had and continues to have on discussions of naval strategy. Captain alfred thayer mahans book of 1890, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Indeed, he might be considered the thinker on sea power, the essential starting point for studying the course and conduct of war at sea and for.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by. The influence of sea power upon history 16601783 researchgate. Consider by scholars as the single most influential book in naval strategy, alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history. He stressed the interdependence of the military and commercial control of the sea and asserted that the control of seaborne commerce can determine the outcome of wars. 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. That which i deplore, and which is a sober, just, and reasonable cause of deep national concern, is that the nation neither has nor cares to. The author of this book, alfred thatcher mahan, is to naval warfare what. Mahan argued for a universal principle of concentration of powerful ships in home waters and minimized. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 presents the argument that. Alfred thayer mahan was an advocate for sea power and western imperialism.
Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer and lecturer. This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community. His goal was to discover the laws of history that determined who controlled the seas. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of. Mahans scholarly effort, in preparation for a teaching assignment at the. Mahan came to the conclusion that the one who owns the sea possesses all mahan a. Mahan believed that national greatness was inextricably associated with the sea, with its commercial usage in peace and its control in war.
Indeed, he might be considered the thinker on sea power, the essential starting point for studying the course and conduct of war at sea and for understanding the strategic importance of the maritime. 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. 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. In his book the influence of sea power upon history 1890. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of. In the 19thcentury classic, the influence of sea power upon history, alfred thayer mahan argued the paramount importance of naval superiority in peace and war. Admiral alfred thayer mahan was an admiral like his father before him. The philosophy of rear admiral alfred thayer mahan can be perfectly encapsulated within this quote from his article the united states looking outward in the december 1890 issue of atlantic monthly. Mahan, a naval strategist and the author of the influence of sea power upon history, argued that national prosperity and power depended on control of the worlds sealanes. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 online edition mahan, alfred thayer. Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on naval warfare and maritime strategy. His concept of sea power was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide impact. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 ebook. 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.
The influence of sea power upon history 16601783 kindle edition by mahan, alfred thayer. Alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism. 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. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won. The influence of sea power alfred thayer mahan audiobook. It has even been argued that, with a navy decidedly superior to her. The influence of sea power upon history appeared in 1890 and the influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire in 1892. Chapter 27 study questions chapter 27 1 who was alfred. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won immediate recognition abroad.
Alfred thayer mahan it is ironic that one of the worst seamen to ever command a ship underway should become one of the most influential naval theorists in maritime history. How influential was the influence of sea power upon history. In france we don t do as you, where a few people take a great many shares each. He emphasized the importance of sea power and was inspirational in establishing navies around the world. Alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history was a huge success in both america and. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by alfred. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 dover military history, weapons, armor mahan, a. From his studies of naval warfare he drew principles of strategy that greatly influenced the development and employment of naval forces during the first half of the. But, it may be time to demote mahan s masterpiece to the second rung. Captain who wrote a book the influence of sea power upon history. Mahan identified six main factors which influence the naval power of the state. Alfred thayer 18401914 the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 mahan a. Considering sea power as the most important factor in the formation of world domination, a.
Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4921 ratings. For further reading kevin baker recommends alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783, as well as alfred thayer mahan. Jan 01, 20 consider by scholars as the single most influential book in naval strategy, alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history. Alfred thayer mahans book the influence of sea power upon history was highly influential because it altered the strategy and goals of nations who were maritime powers. Alfred thayer mahans at the time of original publication. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states navy admiral, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. To become a major naval power, the united states began to replace its wooden sailing ships with steel vessels powered. 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.
In france we dont do as you, where a few people take a great many shares each. 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. For its time it was a tremendous success and extremely influential for most all large navies. Nov 10, 20 alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was the first modern military theorist to attempt to explain the influence of sea power in a systematic way. The influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire, 17931812 2 vols. 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.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 classic. Book cover of the 12th edition of thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. It was written for the purpose of changing american attitudes towards modernizing its navy. Pdf the influence of alfred thayer mahan upon the imperial. Mahan formulated his concept of sea power while reading a history book in lima, peru. The project gutenberg ebook of the influence of sea power upon. View test prep chapter 27 study questions from amh 2020 at indian river state college. This is one of those unknown enormously influential books in history. His concept of sea power, most famously presented in the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890, had an enormous influence in shaping the strategic thought of. In 1890, he published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 in which he argued that a nations greatness and prosperity comes from maritime power.
Whoever rules the waves rules the world, mahan wrote. Mahan used history as a stock of lessons to be learnedor more exactly, as a pool of examples that exemplified his theories. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the influence of sea power upon history 16601783. 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 french. Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. He concluded with the reiteration of my sure and joyful confidence, that i have tried. Alfred thayer mahan project gutenberg selfpublishing.
His core argument was that sea power was the key to empirebuilding. Mahan wanted to show that navies decided wars, even between land powers, and many. In alfred thayer mahan his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. His most significant impact on history comes from his theories on naval power, especially those explained in his first two books. Alfred thayer mahan wrote the influence of sea power upon history. In 1861 mahan drove the pocahontas into the anchored seminole.
In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Alfred thayer mahan, the interest of america in sea power. Alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890. Achievements alfred mahan is regarded as one of the most influential naval strategists of the nineteenth century. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by mahan, a.
Alfred thayers mahans the influence of sea power upon history was a twovolume work that argued that sea power was the key to military and economic expansion. The advanced strategy elective program helps fill the u. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was the first modern military theorist to attempt to explain the influence of sea power in a systematic way. It was an analysis of the importance of naval power as a contributing factor to the rise of the british empire. Indeed it can be argued that his influence continues to be exerted even today. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 dover. Books and newspapers vie with one another in describing the. Alfred thayer mahan, published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 in 1890.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work. 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 written by the experienced naval. Alfred thayer mahans at the time of original publication mahan. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by. A naval officer and strategist whose 1890 book, the influence of sea power upon history. These works made alfred thayer mahan one of the leading spokesmen for the age of imperialism. Originally published in the march 2012 issue of military history. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 book. All of the following, championed in a book by alfred thayer ppt. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783.
In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 alfred. All of the following, championed in a book by alfred thayer mahan, stimulated american expansionism abroad. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 by alfred. Alfred thayer mahan was influential in helping to buildup naval defenses before world war i. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer who wrote extensively on naval strategy and the history of sea power. Alfred thayer mahan author of the book, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, argued that every successful world power once held a great navy. This book helped start a naval race among the great powers and moved the u. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 and the influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire, 17931812. Alfred thayer 18401914 unlike some other reproductions of classic texts 1 we have not used ocroptical character recognition, as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by mahan.
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