Tide of Empires: Decisive Naval Campaigns in the Rise of the West 1654-1763: Volume II

Tide of Empires #2

by Peter Padfield

This, the second volume of Peter Padfield’s four-part history of naval warfare, starts with England poised to take over from Holland as foremost world trading and naval power. It leads through the epic struggle of both maritime powers against Bourbon France and concludes with England’s triumphant assumption of the ‘Sovereignty of the Seas’. Underlying the narrative is Peter Padfield’s stark view of the rise of the West as a remorseless battle for the markets of the world, in which naval, financial and trading strength fuse into ‘Sea Power’, an irresistible force carrying all before it, and transforming every society it touches. In this challenging naval view of history, which embraces economics, finance and philosophy, political and individual freedoms are seen not so much as a cultural heritage, but as the necessary bedfellows of ‘Sea Power’, and incompatible with its antithesis, ‘Territorial Power’. In this volume, as in its companions, Peter Padfield succeeds in weaving the two strands of storytelling and vivid battle descriptions with the underlying study of the forces of naval, trading and financial power. Praise for Tide of Volume ’Another classic in this excellent naval series’ - Goodreads review Peter Padfield trained for the sea aboard HMS Worcester and served as a navigating officer on the P&O liners to Australia and the East. In 1957 he served as a mariner on board the replica pilgrim bark Mayflower II to America. Since 1965 he has been a full-time writer specializing in naval history, with particular interest in gunnery and the interaction between gunnery and naval tactics. His books, which have established him among the most readable and exciting of naval historians, include The Battleship Era, Nelson’s War and Rule Britannia – the Victorian and Edwardian Navy.

Genres: History, Naval History, 18th Century

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2015

Reviews

[patrick t. patterson]

The telling of history from a varied prospective.

This shows the practical application of finance and how it affected strategy and actions in the 17th and 18th century. It discusses and shows the strength of the parliamentary system over that of absolute monarcy. It also goes into great detail of the issues and problems of admirals in this age of sail. Very good book highly recommended first of 2 books.

[William Rowe]

Naval Warfare in Europe 1654-1763 and how it was paid fr

Detailed history with battle maps. The contextual information makes retaining the theme easier. Now for volume III. The views on the USN will be interesting.

[Steve Switzer]

Another classic in this excellent naval series