Figure 1.--

The Pacific is by far the largest ocean. It is the Atlantic, however, where most important naval battles were fought. This is largely a reflection of the fact that China showed very little interest in either trade with the West and naval expansion. Chinese emperors did not saw little of value from outside their famulously wealthy domains. Their major concern was focus was a land problem--keeping the barbarians to the north out which resulted in the Great Wall. In contrast, several European countries as soon as technology permitted it, showed considerable interest in overseas trade and ultimately expansion. The first Western naval battles were fought in the Mediterranean, in part because of limits of naval technology and the fact that the locus of the Western world was around the Mediterranean. There were naval wars in the Mediterranean, but these were limited by the fact that Rome after defeating Carthage was so dominant. At first this largely meant access to the marvelous products of the East. As a result, the countries of Western Europe fought countless sea battles in the Atlantic. Thus for five centuries, the Atlantic woukd be in the words of one historian--'the cockpit of history'. Ultimately these battles would lead to the dominance of the British Royal Navy and in the 20th century, the allied U.S. Navy. In the 20th century, the outcome of the two world wars would be determined largely by control of the Atlantic sea lanes. The first important naval battle fought in the Pacific was Tsushima (1904) which marked the emergence of Japan as a world power. This, however, was only a minor prelude to the Pacific War. The largest naval war in history was fought in the vast Pacific. The last major war in the Mediterranean was Lepanto (1571) until World War II. Naval warfare in the Indian Ocean was limited because the Arabs were so domimnant for an etended period and did not press technological innovation. This ended at Diu with the victory of the Europeans with modern technology (1509). There after, the warring countries in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans were Europeans who mostly fought their battles in the Atlantic.

Mediterranean

The first Western naval battles were fought in the Mediterranean, in part because of limits of naval technology and the fact that the locus of the Western world was around the Mediterranean. There were naval wars in the Mediterranean, but these were limited by the fact that Rome after defeating Carthage was so dominant. Their major naval problems were pirates. The last major war in the Mediterranean with major strategic consequences was Lepanto (1571) [winchester] The fledging U.S. Navy fought its second overseas campaign in the Mediterranean with the Barbary Pirates (1800s). The Royal Navy almost captured Napoleon in Egypt (1799). The Allies might hsve saved Russis if they had opened the Dardeenelles at Galipoli (1915). The Royal Navy was tested by the Italisn fleet vin World War II (1940-41). Mastery of the Mediterranean made possible the first important British land victory of the War--El Alemain and subsequent Anglo-American Torch landings.

Atlantic

The Atlantic Ocean is much smaller than the Pacific, but have proven much more important in history. It streaches from the misty Faroe Island south to the Skeleton coast of Naminia. Several Europeans countries, in contrast to the Chinese, as soon as technology permitted it, showed considerable interest in overseas trade and ultimately expansion. Europeans entered the Atlantic in the anicent era. We know Pheonecians, Greeks, Catheginians, and Romans passed through the Straits of Gibraltar to conduct trade both to the south and north. We do not, however, know of any naval battles. Nor were there many naval battles with the Vikings. Two unrelated events ignited the contest for mastery of the Atlantic (15th century). Technological advances, especially, the full-rigged ship, made possible longer sea journeys with more control by navigators. This began the Portuguese voyages south along the cost of Africa, seeking a route east as well as Colunbus' voyage west seeking to reach the East. The other major event was the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks (1453). This cut the northern land routes to the East. The Arabs had long dominated the southern routes. Control of Constaniople gave the Ottomans control over the luxuries of the east, silk, porcelin, spices, and other coveted products. The development of sea routes to the East had profound geo-political consequnces. Venice and Genoa deckined to insigficance. The Middlkeeast bnd the Arabs became a backwater if history. The Ottomans were weakened. Access to the marvelous products of the East mean enormous wealth. As a result, the locus of power in Europe shifted west from the Mediterranean countries to the Atlantic seaboard countries. The countries of Western Europe (England, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain) fought countless sea battles in the Atlantic. Thus for five centuries, the Atlantic would be in the words of one historian--'the cockpit of history'. [Winchester] The Tiny Netherlands was able to keep great powers (Spain and France) at bay with its fleet and overseas empire. And it was here that that capitalism was born, invented by the Dutch and puloined by the English. Ultimately these battles would lead to the dominance of Britain with its powerful Royal Navy and in the 20th century, the allied U.S. Navy. In the 20th century, the outcome of the two world wars would be determined largely by control of the Atlantic sea lanes.

Pacific

The Pacific is by far the largest ocean. It is the Atlantic, however, where most important naval battles were fought. This is largely a reflection of the fact that China showed very little interest in either trade with the West and naval expansion. Chinese emperors did not saw little of value from outside their famulously wealthy domains. Their major concern was focus was a land problem--keeping the barbarians to the north out which resulted in the Great Wall. The first important naval battle fought in the Pacific was Tsushima (1904) which marked the emergence of Japan as a world power. This, however, was only a minor prelude to the Pacific War. The largest naval war in history was fought in the vast Pacific.

Indian Ocean

Naval warfare in the Indian Ocean was limited because the Arabs were so domimant for an etended period and did not press technological innovation. This ended at Diu with the victory of the Europeans with modern technology (1509). There after, the warring countries in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans were Europeans who mostly fought their battles in the Atlantic. A Japanese taskforce entered the Indian Ocean, wrecking havoc (1942), but after Midway was no longer capable iof major actions in the Indian Ocean.

Arctic Ocean

Naval warfare in the Arctic was basically precluded by technology. Only during World war II did naval warfare reach the Arctic. The principal European campaign was the Allied effort to supply the embattlke Soviet Unuon through the northern convoy runs to Mumansk and Archangel. The principal naval action was the sinking of the Sharnhost

Anarctic

Wars have not been fought in the Antarctic because lack of strategic importance and limits of technology. The closest to an Ararctic battle was the battle of the Falklands (1915). A German naval squadron was destroyed by the British. Virtually all the German sailors perished because of the cold water. The British and Argentines fought it out over the Falklands (1982), but this was more of aand campaign. The principal naval ction was the sinking of the cruiser Belgrano by a Royal Navy nuclear submarine. An interesting modern phenomenon was the whale wars between Greepeace and the Japanese whaling fleet. Greenpeacr=e at first seemed outmstched, but ultimately made it unprofitable for the Japanese to hunt whales.

Sources

Winchester, Simon. Atlantic (Harper, 2010).

Created: 7:11 AM 9/29/2011
Last updated: 7:11 AM 9/29/2011