THE STORY OF GLOBAL SUPREMACY
“Whosoever commands the sea commands trade; whosoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself.” – Sir Walter Raleigh
ORDER DIRECT FROM JANSON MEDIA: SPECIAL PRICE $ 14.95
LENGTH: 235 Minutes
MSRP: $29.95
CATALOG #: 20328
UPC #: 6-4603203289-5
ISBN #: 1-56839-228-1
RELEASE YEAR: 2006
PRODUCER: Robert Linnell Productions Inc.
DOWNLOAD-TO-OWN from Amazon.com Volume 1
DOWNLOAD-TO-OWN from Amazon.com Volume 2
England’s Royal Navy preserved its empire and gave it military dominance of the world for more than 350 years. In the 20th century that dominance would pass from Britain to America and eventually, from sea to space. The English language owes its success as the world language to this fundamental military reality — whoever controls the great commons of the sea and space dominates the world. This DVD collection explores the relationship between military power, technology, commercial realities, and the will of a nation and a people to excel.
Historian Mark Milner and Yale University professor Paul Kennedy are our guides in this remarkable five-hour documentary series.
Episode #1: Britain Arises This hour covers the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the wars between the Dutch and the English for control of world trade ultimately resolved by an alliance that placed Prince William of Orange on the throne of England along with his English wife, Mary. The alliance guaranteed the Dutch merchant marine access to the world’s oceans but left the Royal Navy supreme.
Episode #2: The 18th Century This episode is concerned primarily with the battles between France, the greatest land power, and Britain, the greatest seapower, for world dominance. Program two includes the Battle for Quebec and the American Revolution and traces the decisive role played by naval power in both conflicts.
Episode #3: Pax Britannica – The British Peace Here we explore Britain’s function, in all but name, as a Superpower. Between 1815 and 1865, Britain adds territory around the world equal to one hundred Englands. By the end of the 19th century, technological innovation increases dramatically. Britain responds with a victory at Jutland in World War One but is exhausted financially after the struggle. Germany is defeated but America and Japan emerge from the conflict stronger than they entered it.
Episode #4: Changing the Guard This episode marks the transfer of power midway through WWII from the Royal Navy to the US Navy and the growth of two unique 20th century weapons of war, the submarine and the aircraft carrier. But before that happens, the Japanese make a serious challenge to Britain and America’s domination of the great commons of the sea.
Episode #5: Space, the Great Commons Naval strategists had concluded, with the arrival of cheap land transportation, that the advantage of seapower would be transferred to a land-based empire. By 1946, that challenger, the USSR, had arrived, and with it, atomic power, missiles and satellites. Space, the Great Commons explores the war over space between the United States and the Soviet Union and America’s final triumph while exposing its hidden vulnerabilities as we enter the 21st Century.
Reviews
“In the five-hour survey Seapower to Superpower, historian Mark Milner and Yale professor Paul Kennedy illustrate how this transfer took place, looking at every major war, far-reaching technological advancement, and mitigating economic factor along the way. Boasting solid archival footage and stills, this enlightening overview of the intersection between military and technological advances and world politics is recommended. Three Stars.” – Video Librarian“The well-written text is supplemented by a clear, smooth narration while the on-screen images are composed of stunning re-creations, perfect computer simulations, classic artwork, and concise interviews with historians. A dynamic background score is reminiscent of the classic Victory at Sea documentary film series from 50 years ago in which the music perfectly punctuates the images. This superior production has unlimited potential in a classroom setting and as a core component of a school media collection.” School Library Journal
“This 2-disc DVD set of over 5 hours of research and commentary focuses on how sea power has always determined military dominance, up to the 20th century, when space power took over. The various topics are: Britain Arises, The 18th Century, Pax Britannica, Changing the Guard, and Space the Great Commons. In each section, animation is used to show how new design and technology helped each race or country to achieve military dominance over its neighbors. From the Viking longship to the cog to the space shuttle, each visualization shows how the new technology was better than the old. A very interesting documentary, with great graphics and stunning re-creations. Highly Recommended ” – Educational Media Reviews Online
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