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. He perceived in germany a restless need for selfassertion and expansion. Mahans most famous work was the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890, which became one of the most influential books on strategy and foreign policy ever written. The primary one is the assertion that naval power is a deciding factor for everyone. The government by its policy can favor the natural growth of a peoples industries and its tendencies to seek adventure and gain by way of the sea. Alfred thayer mahan introduction alfred thayer mahans study of history led him to strongly believe that a nations sea power determined its economic wealth and international prominence.
Alfred thayer mahan was influential in helping to build up naval defenses before world war i. The influence of sea power upon history, 1660 1783 by alfred. Alfred thayer mahan biography alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840december 1, 1914 was a us navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian. Germanys kaiser wilhelm had copies of mahans books placed on every ship in the. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power. Explaining englands success was one mission of captain alfred thayer mahan, united states navy usn. Alfred thayer mahan writes the influence of sea power upon history. The government by its policy can favor the natural growth of a peoples industries and. Indications are not wanting of an approaching change in the thoughts and policy of. Alfred thayer mahan and the coming of the first world war the.
Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was a naval strategist, historian, and leading advocate of a powerful u. Alfred thayer mahan, published the influence of sea power upon history. He is considered to be one of the most important american strategist in the 19th century. Excerpts from the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 by alfred thayer mahan first, in peace. Mahan, the united states looking outward the atlantic monthly, december, 1890. 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. Young mahan spent his early years at west point, until he was sent to a boarding school in maryland, st. Mahan s book the influence of sea power upon history. In 1890 mahan published his college lectures as the influence of sea power upon. Mahan preached the importance of naval power to a nations success in trade and growth in power and influence, based on his reading of the history of the wars of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, mostly around europe but also in the indian. 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. Mahan was a united states of america navy admiral, strategist and historian. Pdf the influence of alfred thayer mahan upon the imperial. In the book, the influence of sea power upon history, mahan claimed that countries with sea power were the great nations of history.
Our selfimposed isolation in the matter of markets. Mahan published the influence of sea power upon history in 1890 mahan s book played an influential role in shaping late 19thcentury american policy toward the. I forget what its called but it argued great nations could only achieve hegemony through a large, powerful, modern navy. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840december 1, 1914 was a us navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian. 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 united states looking outwards, alfred thayer mahan. A year later, in his book naval strategy, mahan bluntly asserted that the balance of power no longer exists. Indications are not wanting of an approaching change in the thoughts and policy of americans as to their relations with the world outside their own borders. How did alfred thayer mahans ideas influence imperialism.
Alfred thayer mahan writes the influence of sea power upon history mahan. Teddy read mahans book and decided to adopt many of mahans theories and get more. Alfred thayer mahan united states naval officer and. 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. Our increasing production demanded we expanded overseas and gain new markets. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer who wrote extensively on naval strategy and the history of sea power. Mahan, boston, little, brown, and company, 1919, also by allan f. In 1890 mahan, published this book while president of the us naval war. The mahanian scholar, jon tetsuro sumida, has asserted that the political economic.
The us only had 2 battleships, teddy read mahans book and decided to adopt many of mahans theories and get more battleships. In this book he argued for the paramount importance of sea power in national. 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. 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. Mahans scholarly effort, in preparation for a teaching assignment at the naval war. December 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of. He also became a historian and strategic analyst upon his appointment to the new naval war. Mahan s influential 1890 book asserted that a the great empires of history had great navies b infantry was more important in wartime than ships c establishing naval bases around the world was unimportant d the u. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. Story of the war in south africa 18991900 by alfred thayer mahan the war in south africa has been no exception to the general rule that the origin of current events is to be sought in the history of the past, and their present course to be understood by an appreciation of existing. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 work by mahan.
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. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 alfred. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of. 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. In his writings and speeches, mahan argued the following. Sep 01, 2004 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. Alfred thayer mahan, american naval officer and historian who was a highly. 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. Indications are not wanting of an approaching change in the thoughts an. Alfred thayer mahan synonyms, alfred thayer mahan pronunciation, alfred thayer mahan translation, english dictionary definition of alfred thayer mahan. Lee the interest of america in sea power, present and future por alfred thayer mahan disponible en rakuten kobo. The proponents of a strong navy also recognized the value of overseas trade. 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.
Cse for the new navy, 18801890 by robert seager ii american foreign policy throughout the tenyear period preceding the publication of admiral alfred t. Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. His book the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 1890 won immediate recognition, especially in europe, and with. In his influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, published in 1890, mahan plainly stated england dominated the world because of her holy naval trinity of merchant shipping, colonies, and, most importantly, her navy. Source for information on mahan, alfred t the oxford companion to. Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on naval warfare and maritime strategy. Dec 30, 2014 one hundred years later, the insights of the american strategist continue to have extraordinary relevance today. Mahan was, naturally, widely admired among the british. December 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of alfred thayer mahan. 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. Story of the war in south africa 18991900 by alfred.
Navy officer and military historian who believed that national security and commercial prosperity depended on a strong naval force. 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. Thus mahans ideas formed much of the basis for american imperialism. Alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea power. Jun 30, 2014 a year later, in his book naval strategy, mahan bluntly asserted that the balance of power no longer exists. Alfred thayer, 18401914 an online book about this author is available, as is a wikipedia article mahan, a. 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. One hundred years later, the insights of the american strategist continue to have extraordinary relevance today. Alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power on history, 16601783. He explained that, austria and germany form a substantially united body, extending from. His vision for the united states included overseas colonies and control of a canal linking the. He wrote a great book about the use of sea power for militaryeconomic domination. Mahan translation, english dictionary definition of alfred t.
The influence of sea power upon history 1890 alfred. Since men live upon the land and not upon the sea, great issues 3 ibid. The united states looking outwards, alfred thayer mahan, 1890. A civil war veteran, teaches at the naval war college. Captain alfred thayer mahan argued in the influence of sea. Thus mahan s ideas formed much of the basis for american imperialism. Mahans influence of sea power upon history in 1890 was characterized by vacillation, indecision, and frustration. Alfred thayer mahan was a naval admiral who was a very effective advocate of imperialism. The book had great impact on navies around the world, and its. In 1890, us navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote a landmark book entitled, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. In 1890, mahan published his book, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. 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. His concept of sea power was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide impact. 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.
Alfred thayer mahan and the coming of the first world war. His most prominent work, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783, had a widespread impact on navies around the world. He died in washington, dc on 1 december 1914, and is buried at quogue, long island. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. The geopolitical vision of alfred thayer mahan the diplomat. Alfred thayer mahan united states naval officer and historian mahan. In 1890, mahan published his first of over 20 books about naval and sea power. Excerpts from the influence of sea power upon history. His most important thesis was that the country with the most powerful navy can have the greatest influence in the world.
In 1890, after reading theodore mommsens multivolume history of rome which. Alfred thayer mahan was influential in helping to buildup naval defenses before world war i. Alfred thayer mahan definition of alfred thayer mahan by. Alfred thayer mahan has 96 books on goodreads with 4936 ratings. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was the first modern military theorist to attempt to explain the influence of sea power in a systematic way. Mahan also believed that america should at least acquire defensive bases in the caribbean and the pacific and take. The united states looking outwards, alfred thayer mahan, 1890 alfred thayer mahan was a u.
Admiral alfred thayer mahan was an admiral like his father before him. He was very influential over his friend and colleague, teddy roosevelt. By that time his ideas were well known, and he argued widely and publicly that the time had come for the. Mahan, the united states looking outward, atlantic monthly, lxvi december, 1890, 81624. He emphasized the importance of sea power and was inspirational in establishing navies around the world. 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. Read the interest of america in sea power, present and future by alfred thayer mahan available from rakuten kobo. 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. Excerpts from the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. Alfred thayer mahans at the time of original publication mahan was a.