Mahan served twice as president of the college, 1886 to 1889. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. In the book, the influence of sea power upon history, mahan claimed that countries with sea power were the great nations of history. The author, alfred thayer mahan, was a united states naval officer and the son of the esteemed west point professor dennis hart mahan. The american naval strategist alfred thayer mahan made perhaps too much of the influence on tactics of technological progress. Alfred thayer mahan was born in west point, new york, in 1840, educated at the u. 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. Well sometimes a classic is book that is good to own, but not to read. Mahan also believed that america should at least acquire defensive bases in the caribbean and the pacific and take. It was not so much a history book as a book about sea power, of the naval type, and its influence on history.
A union naval officer in the civil war, he later lectured on naval history and strategy at the naval war college, newport, r. The influence of sea power upon history 16601783 by alfred thayer mahan. 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. Mahan on naval warfare dover maritime paperback november 2, 2011 by alfred thayer mahan author. 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. 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. The younger mahan had seen combat during the civil war before being appointed a lecturer at the us naval academy at annapolis. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of.
He was a very close friend of assistant secretary of the navy and author of a very influential book worldwide on the us navy vs. 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. Young mahan spent his early years at west point, until he was sent to a boarding school in maryland, st. His concept of sea power was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide impact. Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history.
In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. Mahan on naval warfare dover maritime paperback november 2, 2011 by alfred thayer mahan author 4. Alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism. 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. Alfred thayer mahan books list of books by author alfred. The theories of alfred thayer mahan, however, did quite a bit to influence not only the u. Alfred thayer mahan was born on september 27, 1840 at west point, new york, where his father was a professor of civil and military engineering at the u. Jan 01, 20 consider by scholars as the single most influential book in naval strategy, alfred thayer mahan s the influence of sea power upon history. Alfred thayer, 18401914 an online book about this author is available, as is a wikipedia article mahan, a. Jan 29, 2020 miller robert darnton eric foner in this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. 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. Page 125 when these formidable mortars arrive, and you are completely ready, you will collect such vessels as can be spared from the blockade, and proceed up the mississippi river, and reduce the defenses which guard the approaches to new orleans, when you will appear off that city and take possession of it under the guns of your squadron, and hoist the american flag therein, keeping.
Retrospect and prospect like father, like son planning for war and empire geopolotics and angloamerican relations muted differences over caribbean issues roosevelt unlimbers his big guns refighting the war of 1812in 1905 private property and arbitration reorganizing the navy cruise around the world darkening horizons the ambiguous relationship. Mahans classic treatise on naval warfare and how its effective deployment. The author describes the working relationship that developed between the. Alfred thayer mahan quotes author of the influence of sea. Mahans scholarly effort, in preparation for a teaching assignment at the naval war. Alfred thayer mahan was born on 27 september 1840 at west point, new york, where his father, dennis hart mahan, was a distinguished professor of civil and military engineering at the us military academy. List of books and articles about alfred thayer mahan. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Pronunciation of alfred thayer mahan with 2 audio pronunciations, 3 synonyms and more for alfred thayer mahan.
In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. The book had great impact on navies around the world, and its. Jan 05, 2016 suzanne geisslers god and sea power is a delightful, wellresearched, and fascinating book. 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 twentieth century. The influence of sea power upon history 1890 alfred thayer. Nov 22, 2018 he was a very close friend of assistant secretary of the navy and author of a very influential book worldwide on the us navy vs. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won immediate recognition. Alfred thayer mahan was born on september 27, 1840, in west point, new york, where his father was a professor of military engineering at the united states military academy. He concluded with the reiteration of my sure and joyful confidence, that i have tried god these many years and found him ever faithful luce pointed mahan in the direction of writing his future studies on the influence of sea power. Alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914, american naval historian and strategist, provided the intellectual and historical foundations for american imperial expansion.
September 11 attacks, series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in by 19 militants. He studied at columbia college for two years before entering the naval academy at annapolis, maryland. 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. He died in washington, dc on 1 december 1914, and is buried at quogue, long island. The geopolitical vision of alfred thayer mahan the diplomat. These opening quotations form the foundation of alfred thayer mahans most famous book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. Alfred thayer mahan, american naval officer and historian who was a highly influential exponent of sea power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire, 17931812 2 vols. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer who wrote extensively on naval strategy and the history of sea power.
Between and, mahan was engaged in special service for the bureau of navigation, and in he was appointed to command the powerful new protected cruiser chicago on a visit to europe, where he. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of. 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. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. His ideas on the importance of sea power influenced navies around the world, and helped prompt naval buildups before world war i. Alfred thayer mahan has 97 books on goodreads with 4967 ratings. Mahan had retired from the navy in 1896, but had been recalled to serve on the board of naval strategy during the spanish american war. Alfred thayer mahan s most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. Naval academy and served as a union naval officer during the civil war. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mahan on naval warfare. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by. Apr 12, 2010 the naval strategy of alfred thayer mahan duration.
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. The influence of sea power upon history audiobook part 15 duration. Alfred thayer mahan, born september 27, 1840, west point, new york, u. Other articles where the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 is discussed. Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4936 ratings. Mahan formulated his concept of sea power while reading a history book in lima, peru.
Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states navy flag officer, geostrategist, and educator. How large was the impact of alfred thayer mahans books on. Miller robert darnton eric foner in this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. 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. Jul 17, 2019 alfred thayer mahan kelly, militarism in a global age. Alfred thayer mahan wikisource, the free online library. In 1890, us navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote a landmark book entitled, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Discover librarianselected research resources on alfred thayer mahan from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals.
Seward also attempted to purchase suitable caribbean naval bases. Captain alfred thayer mahans the problem of asia was published in 1900. He was a lecturer at the newport war college, where he prepared ideas that would later appear in his highly influential writings. Alfred thayer mahan project gutenberg selfpublishing. Mahans lecture notes become the basis for his book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. Mahan on naval warfare by alfred thayer mahan books on. What is the historical significance of alfred thayer mahan. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work. The joint efforts of roosevelt and mahan to secure u. Dec 30, 2014 december 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of alfred thayer mahan, the renowned naval historian, strategist, and geopolitical theorist. List of books and articles about alfred thayer mahan online. Early life alfred thayer mahan was born on september 27. Military academy at west point and a professor of civil and military.
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. 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. Naval war college he wrote the influence of sea power upon history and argued that the united states needed a strong navy to protect its economic interests in foreign markets. Jan 18, 2011 the influence of sea power upon history 16601783 by alfred thayer mahan. In 1890, an obscure naval officer from a thirdrate naval power published a book which shaped the course of the 19th and early 20th century arms race and naval strategy. December 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of alfred thayer mahan, the renowned naval historian, strategist, and geopolitical theorist. Viewed in the perspective of thirtyfive years it takes on the attributes of an intellectual landmark. In 1890, a book was published that would forever change the way naval strategy was orchestrated. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won immediate recognition abroad. Suzanne geisslers god and sea power is a delightful, wellresearched, and fascinating book. In his second book, the influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire, mahan stressed the interdependence of the military and commercial control of the sea and asserted that the control of seaborne commerce can. The influence of sea power alfred thayer mahan audiobook. It is deeply biographical, concerning itself primarily with the mans christian life, albeit a christian life lived through a seagoing career and. The influence of sea power upon history 1890 alfred.
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