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Alfred Thayer Mahan. The Influence of Sea Power upon History
The Influence of Sea Power upon History
Table of Content
Preface
Introductory
Chapter I. Discussion of the Elements of Sea Power
Chapter II. State of Europe in 1660. Second Anglo-Dutch War, 1665–1667. Sea Battles of Lowestoft and of the Four Days
Chapter III. War of England and France in Alliance Against the United Provinces, 1672–1674.--Finally, of France Against Combined Europe, 1674–1678.--Sea Battles of Solebay, the Texel, and Stromboli
Chapter IV. English Revolution. War of the League of Augsburg, 1688–1697. Sea Battles of Beachy Head and La Hougue
Chapter V. War of the Spanish Succession, 1702–1713. Sea Battle of Malaga
Chapter VI. The Regency in France. Alberoni in Spain. Policies of Walpole and Fleuri. War of the Polish Succession. English Contraband Trade in Spanish America. Great Britain Declares War Against Spain, 1715–1739
Chapter VII. War Between Great Britain and Sapin, 1739. War of the Austrian Succession, 1740. France Joins Spain Against Great Britain, 1744. Sea Battles of Matthews, Anson, and Hawke. Peace of Aix-La-Chapelle, 1748
Chapter VIII. Seven Years' War, 1756–1763. England's Overwhelming Power and Conquests on the Seas, in North America, Europe, and East and West Indies. Sea Battles: Byng Off Minorca; Hawke and Conflans; Pocock and D'Ache in East Indies
Chapter IX. Course of Events From the Peace of Paris to 1778. Maritime War Consequent Upon the American Revolution. Battle Off Ushant
Chapter X. Maritime War in North America and West Indies, 1778–1781. Its Influence Upon the Course of the American Revolution. Fleet Actions Off Grenada, Dominica, and Chesapeake Bay
Chapter XI. Maritime War in Europe, 1779–1782
Chapter XII. Events in the East Indies, 1778–1781. Suffren Sails From Brest for India, 1781. His Brilliant Naval Campaign in the Indian Seas, 1782, 1783
Chapter XIII. Events in the West Indies After the Surrender of Yorktown. Encounters of De Grasse With Hood. The Sea Battle of the Saints. 1781–1782
Chapter XIV. Critical Discussion of the Maritime War of 1778
Footnotes
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Alfred Thayer Mahan
e-artnow, 2021
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The noble classes of Europe inherited from the Middle Ages a supercilious contempt for peaceful trade, which has exercised a modifying influence upon its growth, according to the national character of different countries. The pride of the Spaniards fell easily in with this spirit of contempt, and cooperated with that disastrous unwillingness to work and wait for wealth which turned them away from commerce. In France, the vanity which is conceded even by Frenchmen to be a national trait led in the same direction. The numbers and brilliancy of the nobility, and the consideration enjoyed by them, set a seal of inferiority upon an occupation which they despised. Rich merchants and manufacturers sighed for the honors of nobility, and upon obtaining them, abandoned their lucrative professions. Therefore, while the industry of the people and the fruitfulness of the soil saved commerce from total decay, it was pursued under a sense of humiliation which caused its best representatives to escape from it as soon as they could. Louis XIV., under the influence of Colbert, put forth an ordinance "authorizing all noblemen to take an interest in merchant ships, goods and merchandise, without being considered as having derogated from nobility, provided they did not sell at retail;" and the reason given for this action was, "that it imports the good of our subjects and our own satisfaction, to efface this relic of a public opinion, universally prevalent, that maritime commerce is incompatible with nobility." But a prejudice involving conscious and open superiority is not readily effaced by ordinances, especially when vanity is a conspicuous trait in national character; and many years later Montesquieu taught that it is contrary to the spirit of monarchy that the nobility should engage in trade.
In Holland there was a nobility; but the State was republican in name, allowed large scope to personal freedom and enterprise, and the centres of power were in the great cities. The foundation of the national greatness was money--or rather wealth. Wealth, as a source of civic distinction, carried with it also power in the State; and with power there went social position and consideration. In England the same result obtained. The nobility were proud; but in a representative government the power of wealth could be neither put down nor overshadowed. It was patent to the eyes of all; it was honored by all; and in England, as well as Holland, the occupations which were the source of wealth shared in the honor given to wealth itself. Thus, in all the countries named, social sentiment, the outcome of national characteristics, had a marked influence upon the national attitude toward trade.
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