A Short History of the Royal Navy, 1217 to 1688

This volume offers a concise, readable tour of England’s naval emergence from the early thirteenth century through the Glorious Revolution. It explains how the island’s geography, political consolidation, and early shipbuilding set the stage for a maritime force that could protect trade, explore new worlds, and defend the realm without the constant threat of a land invasion.

The narrative turns to the formative conflicts with the Dutch, tracing how rivalry, piracy, and shifting alliances forced the navy to refine its tactics, discipline, and organization. Key commanders and daring expeditions are presented in a way that brings the period’s drama to life, while the author remains careful to stay within the factual record of this early era. By the book’s close, listeners will understand how the fledgling fleet laid the groundwork for the great naval power that would dominate the seas in the centuries to follow.