Mahans scholarly effort, in preparation for a teaching assignment at the naval war. The influence of sea power upon history 1890 alfred thayer. This highly influential volume, first published in 1890, contains mahans analysis of naval. In his book the influence of sea power upon history 1890. Book, a collection of essays looking at naval history, mostly at the effect of the. Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. Mahan served twice as president of the college, 1886 to 1889 and 1892 to 1893. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon. Over 40 articles cover naval principles, sea power in history and naval and national policies. What was the name of the naval officer and his 1890 book. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 naval historian columbia college 185418567 by arguing that sea powerthe strength of a nations navywas the key to strong foreign policy, alfred thayer mahan shaped american military planning and helped prompt a worldwide naval race in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, by.
Selections from the writing of rear admiral alfred t. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914, american naval historian and strategist, provided the intellectual and historical foundations for american imperial expansion. 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. Alfred thayer mahan biography alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840december 1, 1914 was a us navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian. While turner provided the idea for an empire, mahan provided the more practical guide. In 1890 he wrote influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, the first of twenty books and twentythree essays on this broad subject. 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. Mahan in regard to freedom of private property on the sea from capture during war. Professionally converted for accurate flowingtext e book format reproduction, this unique book reproduces thirteen important government documents, reports, and studies dealing with the career and work of naval pioneer and strategist rear admiral alfred thayer mahan. He died in washington, dc on 1 december 1914, and is buried at quogue, long island. Teddy read mahans book and decided to adopt many of mahans theories and get more. 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. 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.
In 1890, mahan published his first of over 20 books about naval and sea power. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by mahan. 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. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states naval officer and historian, whom john keegan called the. Indeed, mahan was assigned some of the blame for the naval race before world war i. Alfred thayer mahan was a united states naval officer and historian, whom john keegan called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. He emphasized the importance of sea power and was inspirational in establishing navies around the world. Mahan was a united states of america navy admiral, strategist and historian. Mahan, the united states looking outward, atlantic monthly, lxvi december, 1890, 81624. Mahan on sea power, 1890 to turn now from the particular lessons drawn from the history of the past to the general question of the influence of government upon the sea career.
Mahan, a t and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mahan s lecture notes become the basis for his book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. Alfred thayer mahan writes the influence of sea power upon history. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national. The proponents of a strong navy also recognized the value of overseas trade. Mahan wrote a book called, the influence of sea power on history, which was a turning point in american imperialism. Military academy at west point and a professor of civil and military engineering. Several ships, including the uss mahan, were named in his honor. His most important thesis was that the country with the most powerful navy can have the greatest influence in the world. The influence of seapower on defeat and victory had been neglected by historians, and captain mahan wrote this book in order to point out its high importance. 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. Wideranging coverage of strategic positions, principles of naval administration, growth of british sea power, the battle of trafalgar, the moral aspect of war, motives for naval power, and much more. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. This masterfully crafted ebook is a faithful and unabridged presentation of the.
Well sometimes a classic is book that is good to own, but not to read. Mahan wrote other books on sea power as well as biographies of horatio nelson and david farragut. Alfred thayer mahan was born on 27 september 1840 at west point, new york. Alfred thayer mahan books free pdf books bookyards. 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. Mahan the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 available online from project gutenberg or as a free typeset pdf ebook optimized for printing at home. The book was a classic and the kaiser had a copy of it placed in every. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer and historian. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. Naval academy, he served in the union navy as a lieutenant throughout the civil war, and was president of the naval war college from 1886 to 1889 and from 1890 to 1893. He also became a historian and strategic analyst upon his appointment to the new naval war.
Oct, 2017 the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 is an influential treatise on naval warfare written in 1890 by alfred thayer mahan. Imperialism of alfred thayer mahan by walter lafeber the decade of the 1890s, marked by the spanishamerican war, annexation of the philippines, and the open door notes, was a crucial period in american diplomatic history. This is one of those unknown enormously influential books in history. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by mahan, a.
As president of the college he began writing books. 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 gutenberg, file 529h. Story of the war in south africa 18991900 by alfred thayer mahan. In 1890, us navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote a landmark book entitled, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783.
The influence of sea power upon history 1890 alfred. 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. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, by alfred thayer mahan, 1890 in the influence of sea power upon history, alfred thayer mahan studied the rise and fall of naval. Alfred thayer mahan, born september 27, 1840, west point, new york, u. Background in 1904, while mahan was continuing to author books. Pdf mahan on naval strategy download full pdf book. Alfred thayer mahan was influential in helping to buildup naval defenses before world war i.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by a. These opening quotations form the foundation of alfred thayer mahan s most famous book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. 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. Alfred thayer mahan synonyms, alfred thayer mahan pronunciation, alfred thayer mahan translation, english dictionary definition of alfred thayer mahan. The book brought mahan fame in his lifetime and ever since. He was a founder of the navy league and fought throughout his life for a panama canal. It details the role of sea power throughout history and discusses the various factors needed to support a strong navy. Mahans classic treatise on naval warfare and how its effective deployment.
Alfred thayer mahan books list of books by author alfred. Mahan on sea power, 1890 to turn now from the particular lessons drawn from the history of the past to the general question of the influence of government upon the sea career of its people, it is seen that that influence can work in two distinct but closely related ways. Mahan captain alfred thayer mahans book of 1890, the influence of sea power upon history. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783.
Influence of sea power upon history 16601783 abridged and influence of sea power upon the french revolution 17931812 excerpts capt. Alfred thayer mahan, published the influence of sea power upon history. Alfred thayer mahan united states naval officer and historian mahan. Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4901 ratings.
Mahan s writings and lectures greatly influenced theodore roosevelt, henry cabot lodge, and. Turner, mahan, and the roots of empire us history ii os. Captain alfred thayer mahan argued in the influence of sea. 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. Alfred thayer mahan, published the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 in 1890. Admiral mahans biography was simple and professional. He is considered to be one of the most important american strategist in the 19th century. In 1885 he was appointed lecturer in naval history and tactics at the us naval war college, and became president of the institution between 18861889. Mahan published a book entitled the influence of sea power upon history in which he emphasized the importance of naval power in maintaining national. T mahan book 161 editions published between 1897 and 2018 in english and undetermined and held by 2,392 worldcat member libraries worldwide.
His book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 won. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer who wrote extensively on naval strategy and the history of sea power. Mahan became the colleges president in 1886 and held that post until 1889. Mahan formulated his concept of sea power while reading a history book in lima, peru. Oct 30, 2008 he advocated the use of seapower or a twoocean navy as an essential component of any empire or world power. Navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote the influence of sea power upon history in 1890.
What was the name of the naval officer and his 1890 book that argued that no nation could prosper without a large fleet of ships engaged in international trade, protected by a powerful navy operating overseas bases. Price, seapower comes of age b theodore roosevelt, the history of the united states navy c alfred t. 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. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of. His book the influence of sea power in 1890 argued that control of the navy was key to world dominance.
Mahans classic treatise on naval warfare and how its effective deployment changed the. The influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire 17931812. Originally published in 1890, this work was the primary motivation for a massive. Captain alfred thayer mahan argued in the influence of sea power upon history 1890 that a nations greatness depended on its navy, and that countries with the greatest fleets played a decisive role in shaping history. A note on the mercantilistic imperialism of alfred thayer mahan.
Mahan in his book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, published in 1890, was eagerly accepted by the united states, great britain. The greatest books of all time written by the author alfred thayer mahan. A key to understanding the decade can be found in the writings of an austere. Mahan was the son of a professor at the united states military academy at. Young mahan spent his early years at west point, until he was sent to a boarding school in maryland, st. In 1890, captain alfred thayer mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the. Thus mahan s ideas formed much of the basis for american imperialism. His most prominent work, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, had a widespread impact on navies around the world. 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. The book had great impact on navies around the world. 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. Born to mary okill and dennis hart mahan, the latter a professor of civil and military engineering at west point, mahan became a career naval officer.
The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 is an influential treatise on naval warfare written in 1890 by alfred thayer mahan. Alfred thayer mahan definition of alfred thayer mahan by. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. It was not so much a history book as a book about sea power, of the naval type, and its influence on history. Book cover of the 12th edition of thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon. Mahan, alfred thayer naval history and heritage navy.
In his 1890 work, the influence of seapower upon history, he suggested three strategies that would. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 was published in 1890. Influence of seapower upon history, the, an historical study by captain a. The influence of sea power upon history appeared in 1890 and the influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire in 1892.