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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A New Style of Naval History, June 21, 2000
Peter Padfield's latest work, Maritime Supremacy and The Opening of the Western Mind is unlike many traditional naval histories, and is indicative of the innovative writing style of this accomplished author. While this work builds on many of his earlier books, in particular Guns at Sea, Tide of Empires, Rule Britannia, and Armada, Padfield has made the leap - quiet successfully - of merging the importance of naval and maritime topics with the larger picture of Western Civilization and the development of societies. As its subtitle denotes, Maritime Supremacy examines the major naval campaigns that shaped the modern world. From the defeat of the of the Spanish Armada in 1588, to Beachy Head in 1690, to the Battle of the Saints in 1782, these are only some of the key battles that Padfield focuses on. Additionally he includes chapters that relate to the rise and fall of the key maritime nation states, including Spain, the Netherlands, England, and finally the United States. What separates the author from his contemporaries is his ability to examine the clash of fleets and incorporate their successes, or defeats, into the larger scheme of history. He identifies nation-states as either supreme maritime or territorial powers and it is this interaction, both domestically and internationally that provides the structure for his thesis and according to him, for modern history. The book builds extensively on his two volume Tide of Empires: Decisive Naval Campaigns in the Rise of the West, but unlike this earlier work, which is nearly twenty years old, it incorporates many new historiographical sources, while still utilizing primary resources for much of his information. The greatest drawback to Maritime Supremacy is its focus on a rather narrow time frame. While it spans nearly two hundred years, it leaves the reader questioning what other maritime influences have impacted on civilization. Also, the lack of an independent conclusion, to tie together many of the key points addressed in his earlier chapters, would have benefited the reader. Overall, Peter Padfield's Maritime Supremacy and The Opening of The Western Mind is an ideal selection for both historians and the general reading audience seeking information on the role of sea in the dawn of modern history. What the reader comes to realizes is that changes in society, politics, trade, and naval capabilities are not independent events, but forces in the development of civilizations.
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Unsuccessful Hybrid, September 8, 2003
This review is from: Maritime Supremacy and the Opening of the Western Mind: Naval Campaigns that Shaped the Modern World (Paperback)
"Maritime Supremacy And The Opening Of The Western Mind" is a book that fails, although it fails for a "noble" reason: the author is overly ambitious. Mr. Padfield didn't want to write just a political/social history of the maritime powers and he didn't want to write just a naval history, either. He wanted to combine the two types of history. He also wanted to compare and contrast the maritime powers and the continental powers. Although there is certainly nothing wrong with this idea, the execution, in this case, is poor. Rather than weaving all the material together, the author alternates chapters on naval campaigns with chapters on political/social developments in Spain, France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Colonial America. This "alternating current" constantly disrupts the flow of the book: just as you have settled down to concentrate on a sea battle, the author switches to a chapter on political infighting or government financing. The problem also develops the other way around: just when you've gotten your mind set on concentrating on Lord North or William Pitt or tax-farming in pre-Revolutionary France, it's time to read about broadsides and officers pacing the decks of ships, shoe buckle deep in blood. As a result, the reader feels disconcerted: you are never comfortable and you can never get "caught-up" in the narrative. Another problem with the book is that, considering what the author wants to accomplish, it is too short. The author tries to cover approximately ten naval campaigns, while also trying to explain political/economic/social developments in five different geographical areas, covering a span of 200 years. This is just too much material to cover in less than 300 pages. The specialist reader is likely to come away feeling he or she hasn't learned anything new- as everything is presented in such broad strokes. The general reader will likely be confused by the pace and the amount of information. In trying to do too much, the book accomplishes too little. Perhaps the best that can be said of this book is that, for the non-specialist reader, it may open your eyes to a particular naval campaign or to political/economic/social developments in a particular country. For example, the chapter on the Spanish Armada might lead you to read a more comprehensive book on the topic, such as David Howarth's "The Voyage Of The Armada" or the chapter on the Dutch Golden Age could lead you to Simon Schama's wonderful "The Embarrassment Of Riches". However, I don't think that's a good enough reason to read this book, which is why I have given it only two stars.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertainment for the Naval History Neophyte, October 15, 2007
This review is from: Maritime Supremacy and the Opening of the Western Mind: Naval Campaigns that Shaped the Modern World (Paperback)
A somewhat casual reader of non-fiction, though no stranger to history or economics, my knowledge of Naval History was extremely limited. I read Padfield's description of Philip's preparations for the Armada with newfound appreciation for the historian's insights. Padfield has the rare talent of writing in a manner that brings character and personality to the individual actors involved. His descriptions of events leading to, and battles of the Armada, Quiberon Bay and Chesapeake ... are all riveting. It reinforces how preparation and decisions of individuals truly shape history. These history lessons I didn't learn in school have helped provide a greater understanding of forces guiding the decision making of the leaders of the Western World during the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries. It certainly leaves the reader with an appreciation for the impact of Naval power.
The book is a gripping and compelling read that is pure fun. I've read it through twice and several chapters many times. I believe it can be appreciated, and reward the reader equally by chapter or in completion.
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