British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Does Naval History Matter?
A conversation evening between
Professor N. A. M. Rodger, FBA, University of Exeter
and winner of the 2005 British Academy Book Prize and
Professor Tim Blanning, FBA, University of Cambridge
Chairman: Rev'd Professor John Morrill, FBA, Selwyn College, Cambridge
The British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1
Thursday 25 May 2006
6.00-7.30pm
A century ago it was universally accepted by the educated world that naval history belonged at the heart of British history, but for much of the intervening period it has been relegated to the margins of serious history, regarded as a subject interesting, if at all, only to specialists and enthusiasts. It is still widely assumed that sea power mattered only in the context of empire; making it irrelevant and faintly embarrassing for the historian anxious to explore areas of relevance to modern debates. N.A.M. Rodger's 'The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815' (winner of the 2005 British Academy Book Prize) argues that the Edwardians were right to believe that naval power was integral to the political survival and economic prosperity of Britain, and to the shaping of the modern British state. Many aspects of national history, political, social and economic, cannot be fully understood without reference to their naval component, and naval history will be forever impoverished if it is confined to the strictly professional activities of the Royal Navy. Moreover all history of the sea is of its nature international, and this key element of British history can only be understood in an international context. Neither naval history nor national history can be properly known unless they are linked to each other, and to the world outside.
Please note our registration and seating policy:
- Please register using the on-line booking form
- No tickets will be issued for this event.
- The first 100 audience members arriving at the Academy will be offered a seat in our Lecture Room where this event will take place. The next 50 people to arrive will be offered a seat in our Overflow Room which has a video and audio link to the Lecture Room.