| Disciplining the Empire: Politics, Governance, and the Rise of the British Navy Subjects: Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History -- 17th century; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History -- 18th century; Great Britain -- History Naval -- 17th century; Great Britain -- History Naval -- 18th century; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1603–; "Rule Britannia! Britannia rule the waves," goes the popular lyric. The fact that the British built the world's greatest empire on the basis of sea power has led many to assume that the Royal Navy's place in British life was unchallenged. Yet, as Sarah Kinkel shows, the Navy was the subject of bitter political debate. The rise of British naval power was neither inevitable nor unquestioned: it was the outcome of fierce battles over the shape of Britain's empire and the bonds of political authority. Kinkel Sarah : Sarah Kinkel is Assistant Professor of History at Ohio University. |