Seapower and Naval Warfare, 1650-1830

Warfare and History

by Richard Harding

From the author of "Amphibious Warfare in the Eighteenth Century" and "The Evolution of the Sailing Navy, 1509-1815", this book serves as a single- volume survey of war at sea and the expansion of naval power in the 18th century. The book is intended for undergraduate courses on 18th century European history, and for amateur and professional military historians, and for navy colleges, and navy and ex-navy professionals.

Genres: History, Military History, Naval History

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 1999

Reviews

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such an esoteric title, this was a surprisingly good read with fluid prose and a clear and repeated post-Mahan thesis. Coherent arguments with ample evidence indicate that it is too simple to declare the adoption of the open sea battlefleet as the inevitable source of Britain's early 19th century hegemony. Instead, it was early adoption of the battleship as a support vessel for amphibious assault in addition to patroling narrow seaways that linked seapower to global military and commercial power.

This book is also a good introduction to European military conflicts of the 17th and 18th centuries, albeit through the naval lens, of course.

The book lacks adequate maps, so printing out companion maps from a historical atlas will help the reader organize the numerous location names and dates.

[Mr James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and informative.

[Jon Klug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great scholarly work on the history of seapower that is still accessible. Examined maritime and naval aspects from commerce to administration to dockyards to tactics. It is not a popular battle narrative where the reader hears broadsides roaring. An important book for those interested in the relationships of seapower, the state, economics, diplomacy, and war.