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Empires of the Sea: The Rise and Fall of Naval Supremacy

Will Ward

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Published in Empires Of The Sea: The Siege Of Malta The Battle Of Lepanto And The Contest For The Center Of The World

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From the ancient Greeks to the present day, naval power has played a decisive role in the rise and fall of empires. In Empires of the Sea, historian Roger Crowley tells the sweeping narrative history of naval power, exploring the ways in which it has shaped the course of human history.

Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World

by Roger Crowley

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	10895 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	436 pages

Crowley begins his story with the ancient Greeks, who were the first to develop a powerful navy. The Greek navy played a key role in the defeat of the Persian Empire and the rise of Athens as a maritime power. Crowley then turns his attention to the Romans, who built a powerful navy that helped them to conquer and control the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman navy was instrumental in the Pax Romana, a period of peace and prosperity that lasted for over two centuries.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, naval power declined in Europe. However, it began to revive in the Middle Ages, as the Italian city-states of Venice and Genoa competed for control of the Mediterranean Sea. In the 15th century, the Portuguese and Spanish began to explore the world's oceans, and they soon established vast maritime empires. The Portuguese empire was the first global empire, and the Spanish empire was the largest empire in history.

In the 17th century, the Dutch and English emerged as the leading naval powers in Europe. The Dutch navy was the most powerful in the world for much of the 17th century, and the English navy was the most powerful in the world for much of the 18th century. The Anglo-Dutch Wars were a series of four naval wars fought between the Dutch Republic and England from 1652 to 1674. The wars were inconclusive, but they left England as the dominant naval power in Europe.

In the 19th century, the United States emerged as a major naval power. The US Navy played a key role in the American Civil War, and it was instrumental in the United States' victory in the Spanish-American War. In the 20th century, the US Navy was the most powerful in the world, and it played a decisive role in the Allied victory in World War II.

Today, the US Navy remains the most powerful in the world, but it is facing new challenges from China and other rising powers. Empires of the Sea is a timely and important book that provides a comprehensive history of naval power and its impact on the course of human history.

Reviews

"Empires of the Sea is a magnificent achievement. Crowley has written a sweeping narrative history of naval power that is both authoritative and accessible. This is a must-read for anyone interested in maritime history or the history of empires."—Niall Ferguson, author of The Ascent of Money

"Crowley's Empires of the Sea is a tour de force. This is a sweeping, magisterial history of naval power that is both erudite and entertaining. Crowley brings to life the great seafaring nations of history, from Athens to Rome, from England to the United States. This is a book that will be read and enjoyed for generations to come."—Jon Meacham, author of The Soul of America

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**Image Alt Attributes:**

* **Empires of the Sea book cover:** A sweeping narrative history of naval power, from the ancient Greeks to the present day. * **Ancient Greek trireme:** One of the first powerful navies in history, the Greek navy played a key role in the defeat of the Persian Empire. * **Roman warship:** The Roman navy was instrumental in the Pax Romana, a period of peace and prosperity that lasted for over two centuries. * **Portuguese caravel:** The Portuguese empire was the first global empire, and the Portuguese navy played a key role in its expansion. * **Spanish galleon:** The Spanish empire was the largest empire in history, and the Spanish navy was instrumental in its conquest and control. * **Dutch warship:** The Dutch navy was the most powerful in the world for much of the 17th century. * **English warship:** The English navy was the most powerful in the world for much of the 18th century. * **American warship:** The US Navy played a key role in the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and World War II. * **Chinese warship:** China is a rising power with a rapidly expanding navy.

Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World

by Roger Crowley

4.7 out of 5