He was the author of twenty books and 7 articles, mostly dealing with naval history and strategy and international relations. 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. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of. Mahan s lecture notes become the basis for his book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. Mahan was the son of a professor at the united states military academy at west point, new york. Alfred thayer mahan s 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 s thesis that for an nation to be great it had to be a sea power was. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by. Alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea power upon.
What is the historical significance of alfred thayer mahan. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of. See all books authored by alfred thayer mahan, including the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by mahan, a. 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 the french revolution and empire 17931812. Followers of mahans philosophy took steps to enact his naval doctrines. 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. Alfred thayer mahan biography, quotes, works and writings. He was a lecturer at the newport war college, where he prepared ideas that would later appear in his highly influential writings. Note how the spread of island acquisitions across the pacific ocean fulfills alfred mahans call for more naval bases in order to support a larger and more effective u. May 12, 2005 king discusses the life of alfred thayer mahan. Naval academy, and his nearly 40 years of active naval duty included fighting in the american civil war. 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 one of the most important books of the age, 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. 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. Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840december 1, 1914 was a us navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian. How large was the impact of alfred thayer mahans books on. 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. 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. 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. American imperial acquisitions as of the end of the spanishamerican war in 1898. Subsequently herbert read mahans original influence of sea power book, in which he found supporting.
Mahan s first book, published in 1890, was about 600 pages and included 30. Alfred thayer mahan was a united states navy flag officer, geostrategist, and. Mahans first book, published in 1890, was about 600 pages and included 30. Alfred thayer mahan quotes author of the influence of sea. Alfred thayer, 18401914 an online book about this author is available, as is a wikipedia article mahan, a.
Alfred thayer mahan, born september 27, 1840, west point, new york, u. Pdf mahan on naval strategy download full pdf book download. This highly influential volume, first published in 1890, contains mahans analysis of naval warfare and tactics between 16601783. 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. 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 naval officer in question is alfred thayer mahan 18401914 who, in 1890. In alfred thayer mahan his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. Hailed by the british admiralty, theodore roosevelt, and kaiser wilhelm ii, the international bestseller also was endorsed by. Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4915 ratings. Navy is impressive on its own, his most significant impact on history comes from his theories on naval power. Read alfred thayer mahan s biography, works and quotes online for free. Mahan, boston, little, brown, and company, 1919, also by allan f.
The influence of alfred thayer mahan upon history frank b. Selections from the writings of rear admiral alfred thayer mahan. Consider by scholars as the single most influential book in naval strategy, alfred thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon history. Alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism. Mahans 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. Mahan was best known for his idea of sea power, which stated that countries with a strong navy have greater worldwide influence. 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 mahan 18401914 was a career officer in the united states navy, attaining the rank of admiral on the retired list.
The book, largely based on mahans lectures at the naval war college, became the bible for many navies around the world. Pdf mahan on naval strategy download full pdf book. 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. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work.
Mahans lecture notes become the basis for his book, the influence of sea power upon history, published in 1890. Of mahans domestic exponents, theodore roosevelt made the greatest contribution to this 8alfred t. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. The book had great impact on navies around the world, and its. Book cover of the 12th edition of thayer mahans the influence of sea power upon. His most prominent work, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, had a widespread impact on navies around the world. Mahan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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.
Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on. Young mahan spent his early years at west point, until he was sent to a boarding school in maryland, st. 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. 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 was born in west point, new york, in 1840, educated at the u. The geopolitical vision of alfred thayer mahan the diplomat. A note on the mercantilistic imperialism of 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 power as a factor in the rise of the british empire. 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. Dole overthrew her in 1893, william mckinley convinced congress to annex hawaii in 1898. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by a. This book has been cited by the following publications. Mahans book struck the highest levels of the governing classes like a bolt of lightning and created a tempest of intellectual upheaval not. Alfred thayer mahanfather of sea power on december 7th, 1941, the implications of alfred mahans naval philosophy were revealed to the united states. In 1890, captain alfred thayer mahan, a lecturer in naval history and the. Influence of sea power upon history 16601783 abridged and influence of sea power upon the french revolution 17931812 excerpts capt.
Wrote the influence of sea power upon history, which argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. He even wrote a book on the topic which is still read and used today. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national historical supremacy. In 1890, us navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote a landmark book entitled, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. 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. Cambridge core regional history after 1500 the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by a. The book, which came at a time of great technological improvement in warships, won. Mahans book was similarly received to great acclaim in japan where a copy was. 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. He died in washington, dc on 1 december 1914, and is buried at quogue, long island. Mahan were advising the president as we seek to craft an international maritime strategy for the nation, mahans point of view adapted somewhat for todays world. While alfred thayer mahan s 40 years of service in the u. 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 thayer.
The case of alfred thayer mahan foreign policy research institute. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by mahan. Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4901 ratings. Naval academy and served as a union naval officer during the civil war. Mahan formulated his concept of sea power while reading a history book in lima, peru. 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.
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