Assignment Date

–3/07/2023

An Analysis of Influence of Sea Power Upon History

GEOPOLITICS AND SECURITY

Assignment Submitted to
Dr. N Mohandas Singh

By
Name. Tisha Porel
Enrollment No. 220317024
Department. Defence and Strategic Studies
Center. School of National Security
 An Analysis of Influence of Sea Power Upon History
In 1890, Alfred Thayer Mahan published his first book “Influence of Sea Power Upon History”, where he
reimagined the utilization of sea from a social, economic and political point of view. He analysed many wars
in history, and showed how sea became a narrative of contests between nations time and time again. The
history of sea power largely consists of rivalry and violence. According to Mahan, a country’s wealth and
strength depends on its influence on sea commerce. So, to secure the benefits of sea, a country often goes
to direct violence against one another, thus this book is largely a book of military history.

What Is Sea
Mahan described sea from political and social aspect. According to him, sea is a great highway, over which
men can pass in all directions. But there are certain lines which is more preferred than others for travelling,
these are called trade routes. Despite the risks and dangers of sea faring, countries have always considered
it easier and cheaper travelling than by land. Example of commercial success of Holland or modern
Netherland is given for this instance, Holland is hugely successful in trade because of its numerous tranquil
water-ways which gave cheaper and more convenient access to sea. Water carriage was especially
beneficial in those times when technology was underdeveloped, war was frequent, society was chaotic and
roads were few and very bad. Although sea was not entirely out of danger. It was sick with robbers yet it
was safe and quick than land. Early period of colonizing was beset on the long, dangerous nightmare filled
with enemies. Fear of pirates gave birth to maritime posts such as – Cape of good hope, St. Helena,
Mauritius. These posts were not primarily made for trade but for defence and war. Not only Pirates, but
there is a massive chance of coming into conflict with other countries.

Elements of Sea Power

Mahan enumerated six conditions that can affect a nations sea power –

 Geographical position - In this section Mahan pointed out, those nations which are not compelled
itself by land, also doesn’t seek to extend its land borders, have a deep advantage over those
nations who have land borders. For example, England is a more successful sea power than France
and Holland because it doesn’t have the necessity to spend wealth and effort to fend its territorial
borders or to keep a large army. Its isolated geographical position in the waters provided all the
military security it needed.
Easy access to high seas is also important, a nation blessed with the easy access to high seas often
controls the world traffic to a great extent. For example – All sea traffic from Germany passes
through English Channel close by the doors of England which typically affects its sea power.
Mediterranean sea has always been a bone of contentions between nations. Mahan described it as
most strategic comparing its size with other big seas, no other water body of the same size is as
important as Mediterranean sea.

 Physical Conformation – Seaboard is considered as a frontier by Mahan, it increases people’s

tendency to connect with the rest of the world. Harbor and seaboard are both necessary,
worthless without one another. Inland streams were thought to be a double- edged sword,
both source of wealth and vulnerability. They facilitate internal trade, can increase wealth
but if not protected well they become the source of weakness in war.

People’s interest in sea not only depends on coastline or easy access to sea, but also other
physical conditions that doesn’t involve sea. In this context Mahan gave example of why
Britain became a more successful sea power than France despite both having good
 shoreline and excellent harbours. France is comparatively more blessed by nature than
Britain. It has pleasant climate, fertile land and produced more than it needed thus it never
felt the desperate need to connect with the world. On the other hand, Britain with her
scanty resources always had very little to export, they couldn’t even fulfil their domestic
need before industrial revolution thus maritime enterprise become their last resort to
survival.

Italy’s geographic configuration poses a unique circumstance for Italy, as this country is not
only surrounded by sea but also divided by sea into more than two parts. Italy to protect its
divided islands - Sardinia, Sicily, always had maintained military navy because it was rather a
necessity than desirable.
 Extent of Territory – Length of the coast and character of harbour is also a determining factor.
Geographical and physical condition of harbour and coastline can prove to be strength and
weakness for a nation.
 Number of Population – As the character and extent of coast line determine the sea power, so the
nature and characteristic of people affects the development of sea power of a nation. How many
people are following the sea or how many people are readily employable in shipping business must
be counted.
 National Character – Sea power in peace time depends on commercial aptitude, so a nation must
have commercial pursuit in order to grow their dominance over sea. In this context Mahan cited a
very unique example – Spain and Portugal were among the first explorers in Europe. They were
bold, enthusiastic, enterprising; blessed with strategic geographical location, huge coastline and
well-situated ports. That is why they first conquered large and resourceful lands, remained without
competitor for a long time. Yet healthy commerce or industry couldn’t grow in those countries like
other European powers; because govts in those countries were cramp, people unattracted towards
trade. Thus, Mahan is emphasizing on earning national wealth by commercial pursuits by making
use of the sea.
 Character of the Government – Development of sea power is also particularly influenced by certain
type of governments and their accompanied institutions. If a nation is imbued with the spirit of
exploring the sea, then a govt which can intelligently direct peoples will into action remains most
successful in achieving sea power. Mahan propounded England has achieved remarkable success in
this field as it has consistently worked towards the control of sea. By losing America, England lost a
big part of its sea power. Strategic position of America was sacrificed in American revolution
because of some blunders made by British govt.

Mahan’s View About European Colonies in India

In mid-sixteenth century English and French rivalry started In Indian continent to establish their stronghold.
English established settlement is Calcutta, Bombay and Madras; French settled in Chandernagore,
Pondicherry and Mahe. At that time French company had charismatic officers such as Dupleix and La
Bourdonnais who had far more capability and experience than English Indian officials, yet French officials
like Dupleix were confused about choosing land or sea as the stay of power. Dupleix was rather inattentive
to commercial interest in Indian continent. Quoting a French historian, Mahan propounded that naval
inferiority of French was the main cause that obstructed French progress.

 Dupleix & Clive

Around the mid-eighteenth century, French company under the leadership of Dupleix quickly advanced in
political power in southern India. Using discontent among native princes, Dupleix controlled a large
territory of South India as large as France itself.
Dupleix was practically ruler of a third of India, embracing all the way to the coast of Odissa. But French
govt disinterested about political achievements and annoyed about decreasing dividend of French company
cut off additional supplies to Dupleix. He was summoned home, the next successor who came in his place
totally abandoned his policy of political extension. On the other hand, young English officer Clive was
quickly acquiring power in the native politics.

 Fall of French Power in Bengal

Battle of Plassey (1757) which said to have laid English foundation in India, was fought by Clive and admiral
Watson with Bengal nawab Siraj ud-Daulah against overwhelming odds. Clive had only three thousand men
among whom only one-third were English. On the opposition nawab had fifteen thousand horseback
soldiers along with thirty-five thousand soldiers on foot. Artillery was also disproportionate in that regard.
According to Mahan, Clive remained victorious in this unfair war mainly because of two reasons. First, he
implemented Dupleix’s divide and rule policy and managed to crack into inner politics of nawab’s family.
Second, English controlled the sea at that time without any competitor. Clive and Watson ousted French
settlement from Chandernagore beforehand, which made them sole controller of sea in that region.

 Fall of French Power in Pondicherry

French appeared in Coromandel coast much before English stationed at Fort St. David. War was inevitable
between the two, French ships were terribly injured needed urgent repairs. After two disastrous conflict,
French commander D’ Ache backed himself according to the suggestion of council of war because French
ships were no longer in a position to withstand a third blow. Governor Comte De Lally protested, but
ignoring his protest D’ Ache sailed to France for reinforcement. In his absence Lally besieged Madras for
two monsoon months but when English got returned first with reinforcement before French and raised the
siege. When French returned with much numerical superiority, English having the positional superiority did
not hesitate to attack French fleet. After a bloody battle of eighteen months D’ Ache left India to its fate.
The result was very predictable after that, French stronghold started to fall one by one, English continued
to receive support from homeland while French did not. In January 1761, Pondicherry also surrendered.
This was the end of French power in India.
Thus, with the support of home government British naval power subjugated many other European powers
at that time. It established the largest and mightiest British empire in the world. Mahan’s book “Influence
of Sea Power Upon History” redefined history from a naval power point of view, How, sea power effected
the course of history of America, Europe, Asia, Africa. Historians before Mahan were neither interested nor
knowledgeable about maritime affairs, effects of maritime strength were mostly ignored. Mahan was the
first strategic thinker who propounded that sea power has been one of the determining factor in a nation’s
development and quest to power.