Lessons of the war with Spain and other articles (eBook)

Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840–1914) was a distinguished American naval officer, strategist, and historian, renowned for his profound influence on naval theory and the shaping of maritime strategy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His seminal work, 'The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783' (1890), established him as a leading authority on naval warfare and strategy, and his ideas have endured in naval doctrines across the world. Mahan was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. His later career as a lecturer at the Naval War College helped him fuse historical analysis with contemporary naval strategy, laying the groundwork for his literary pursuits and strategic teachings. In 'Lessons of the War with Spain and other articles,' Mahan continued his examination of naval warfare by analyzing the events of the Spanish-American War and assessing their implications for future conflicts. His writings underscore the importance of naval power in achieving national objectives and the strategic principles of maritime supremacy. Mahan's influence extended beyond the United States, as his theories on sea power were studied by naval officers globally, and his concepts shaped the build-up to both world wars. In the realm of literature, his erudite style and rigor in scholarship have made his contributions indispensable to the study of naval history and strategic thought.