The Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire 1793-1812, vol 1

"The Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire 1793-1812" by Captain A.T. Mahan is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book explores the pivotal role that naval power played in shaping the outcomes of the French Revolution and the subsequent conflicts during the Napoleonic era. Mahan's work is a comprehensive analysis intended to illuminate the strategic implications of maritime capabilities within the context of European political dynamics. The opening of the book sets the stage by providing a contextual overview of the events leading to 1793, highlighting the geopolitical landscape in Europe post-American Revolutionary War. It illustrates the political and military conditions of the time, notably the mounting tensions between France and other European powers, particularly Great Britain and Austria. Mahan details the initial stages leading to open conflict, including the internal chaos within France, the execution of Louis XVI, and the new French Republic’s declarations of war that would soon embroil major nations in a struggle for dominance at sea and land, establishing the crucial importance of sea power in determining the outcomes of these historical events. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alfred Thayer Mahan was a United States naval officer and historian, whom John Keegan called "the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century." His 1890 book The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660–1783 won immediate recognition, especially in Europe, and with the publication of its 1892 successor, The Influence of Sea Power Upon the French Revolution and Empire, 1793–1812, he affirmed his status as a globally-known and regarded military strategist, historian, and theorist. Mahan's works encouraged the development of large capital ships — eventually leading to dreadnought battleships — as he was an advocate of the 'decisive battle' and of naval blockades. Critics, however, charged him with failing to adequately explain the rise of largely land-based empires, such as the German or Ottoman Empires, though Mahan did accurately predict both empires' defeats in World War I. Mahan directly influenced the dominant interwar period and World War II-era Japanese naval doctrine of the "decisive battle doctrine" , and he became a "household name" in Germany. He also promoted American control over Hawaii though he was "lukewarm" in regards to American imperialism in general. Four U.S. Navy ships have borne his name, as well as various buildings and roads; and his works are still read, discussed, and debated in military, historical, and scholarly circles.