Alfred mahan synonyms, alfred mahan pronunciation, alfred mahan translation, english dictionary definition of alfred mahan. Mahan on naval warfare dover maritime mahan, alfred thayer on. Sea power theory is about how these factors combine in competi tion and conflict. The geopolitical vision of alfred thayer mahan the diplomat. Sep 11, 20 the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by alfred thayer mahan, 1918, little, brown edition, 12th ed. Describe alfred thayer mahans arguments for a new navy. This is one of those unknown enormously influential books in history. View alfred thayer mahan research papers on academia. Young mahan spent his early years at west point, until he was sent to a boarding school in maryland, st. 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. 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. Airsea battle came to my office last week when one of my colleagues, a u. Mahan, alfred thayer article about mahan, alfred thayer. Military academy at west point and a professor of civil and military.
In the interest of america in sea power, present and future 1897, he sought to arouse his fellow americans to a realization of their maritime responsibilities. He also became a historian and strategic analyst upon his appointment to the new naval war college in newport, rhode island, in 1885. In 1890, us navy captain alfred thayer mahan wrote a landmark book entitled, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. The library of congress advertisement december 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of alfred thayer mahan, the renowned naval historian, strategist, and. How did alfred thayer mahan view seapower and its uses. His ideas on the importance of sea power influenced navies around the world, and helped prompt naval buildups before world war i. He now pronounces seapower evangelist alfred thayer.
Mahan on naval warfare dover maritime paperback november 2, 2011 by alfred thayer mahan author 4. Books by alfred thayer mahan author of the influence of sea. Alfred mahan definition of alfred mahan by the free. Air force colonel, reported undergoing a cometo mahan moment.
The book had great impact on navies around the world, and its. Mahan hague conference and the practical aspect of war alfred t. 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 rooseveltmahan. The writings of alfred thayer mahan emphasized what. Study 35 terms history 2 unit 2 flashcards quizlet. Mahan in regard to freedom of private property on the sea from capture during war. Alfred thayer mahan definition of alfred thayer mahan by. 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. Reared during the nineteenth century, when naval technology remained rudimentary, mahan. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by mahan, a.
Over the following quarter century, he wrote some of. Alfred thayer mahan wikisource, the free online library. The need for an american program of naval building and seaborne expansion mahan argued the most influential nations throughout history were those who established naval supremacy. Admiral farragut alfred thayer mahan full view 1893.
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. Alfred thayer mahan 1840 1914 alfred thayer mahan was a united states navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. 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. Alfred thayer mahan award for literary achievement wikipedia. Air force colonel, reported undergoing a cometomahan moment. Several ships were named uss mahan, including the lead vessel. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914, american naval historian and strategist, provided the intellectual and historical foundations for american imperial expansion. Alfred thayer mahan, julian corbett, and naval strategy before world war i written in 1992 w. Alfred thayer mahan september 27, 1840 december 1, 1914 was a united states navy flag officer, geostrategist, and educator. Alfred thayer mahans most popular book is the influence of sea power upon history, 1660. In 1890, mahan published his book, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783. As mahan published his writings nearly 20 years earlier than corbett. Alfred thayer mahan project gutenberg selfpublishing.
Mahan served as president of the american historical association in 1902. Alfred thayer mahan united states naval officer and historian mahan. Read the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 pdf by alfred thayer mahan forgotten books the influence of sea power upon. Aug 15, 2012 airsea battle came to my office last week when one of my colleagues, a u. 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. The influence of sea power upon the french revolution and empire, 17931812 2 vols. Mahan, alfred thayer article about mahan, alfred thayer by.
The alfred thayer mahan award for literary achievement is awarded each year by the navy league of the united states. Prior to world war i, an uncritical demand for naval power, or navalism, led to the greatest warship building boom in history. 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. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 27 editions. Organized force alone enables the quiet and the weak to go about their business and to sleep securely in their beds, safe from the violent without or within. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of. Mahan on naval warfare by alfred thayer mahan books on. Hattendorf, compiler, register of the alfred thayer.
Alfred mahan definition of alfred mahan by the free dictionary. He died in washington, dc on 1 december 1914, and is buried at quogue, long island. He graduated from the naval academy in 1859 and embarked on a nearly 40year naval career seeing duty in the south atlantic and gulf of mexico against the confederacy. The theories of alfred thayer mahan, however, did quite a bit to influence not only the u. Describe alfred thayer mahan s arguments for a new navy. As mahan published his writings nearly 20 years earlier than corbett, his writings began as. Naval strategy compared and contrasted with the principles and practice of military operations on land, alfred thayer mahan naval strategy compared and contrasted with the principles and practice of military operations on land. Alfred thayer mahan synonyms, alfred thayer mahan pronunciation, alfred thayer mahan translation, english dictionary definition of alfred thayer mahan. His theories have a timeless appeal, and chinese analysts now routinely invoke mahans writings, exhorting their nation to build a powerful navy. Makers of modern strategy from machiavelli to the nuclear age. 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. Last of all in his prefatory 6 alfred thayer mahan, the influence of sea power. Alfred thayer mahan wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre.
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. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 by alfred thayer mahan, 1918, little, brown edition, 12th ed. Hattendorf, compiler, register of the alfred thayer mahan papers newport, 1987. 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. Pdf mahan on naval strategy download full pdf book. 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 commons in determining the rise and fall of great powers. 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. Alfred thayer mahan stands out as one of the foremost thinkers on naval warfare and maritime strategy.
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. A union naval officer in the civil war, he later lectured on naval history and strategy at the naval war college, newport, r. Alfred thayer mahan and sir julian corbett are viewed in many circles as the fathers of sea power theory and maritime theory. The interest of america in sea power, present and future. The influence of sea power upon history, 16601783 open library. The library of congress advertisement december 1, 2014, was the 100th anniversary of the death of alfred thayer. 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. Nations built great battle fleets to help establish and protect colonial empires whether they could afford them. Google scholar the main collection of mahan manuscripts is in the library of congress, but for a guide to the complementary collection at the naval war college, see john b. Aug 04, 2016 alfred thayer mahan was a united states navy admiral, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. Early life alfred thayer mahan was born on september 27.
The naval strategy of alfred thayer mahan duration. Alfred thayer mahan the naval historian alfred thayer mahan was the first theoretician to systematically point out the strategic importance of naval operations to warfare. Hattendorf, compilers, a bibliography of the works of alfred thayer mahan newport, 1986. 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. His important and exhaustive histories of modern naval warfare laid the groundwork for a theory of naval strategy. Naval strategy compared and contrasted with the principles. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Alfred thayer mahan 18401914 was an american naval officer who wrote extensively on naval strategy and the history of sea power. Mahans sole focus on sea power are valid, but it is important to understand that the. The award is named for an american naval historian and theorist, rear admiral alfred thayer mahan, united states navy who, through his writing, provided stimulus and guidance to those who share in the defense of the nation. 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. For the purposes of this paper i will combine geographical position.
Jul 20, 2012 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. Publication date 1890 topics naval history, seapower publisher boston. Other articles where the interest of america in sea power, present and future is discussed. Alfred thayer mahan books list of books by author alfred. Alfred thayer mahan has 74 books on goodreads with 4981 ratings. How did alfred thayer mahans ideas influence imperialism.
The main collection of mahan manuscripts is in the library of congress, but for a guide to the complementary collection at the naval war college, see john b. Sea power and american interests in the western pacific. Alfred thayer mahan has been called americas nineteenthcentury evangelist of sea power and the intellectual father of the modern us navy. 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 was a united states navy admiral, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called the most important american strategist of the nineteenth century. Alfred thayer mahan and his strategic thought springerlink. Therefore distant markets are needed and distant markets need a merchant marine to reach these markets and to protect these fleets a navy was needed. They opportunely published their writings during the zenith of british power, which was built primarily upon the british navy. Alfred thayer mahan quotes author of the influence of sea. In 1890, mahan published one of the most important books of the age, the influence of sea power upon history, 16601783.
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