Britain and the British Seas, which included the first comprehensive geomorphology of the British Isles, is one of Halford Mackinder's major works and a classic in regional geography.

Originally published in 1990 and designed as a student text, The British Seas is a clear introduction to the oceanography and resources of the region. It is unique in providing a detailed review of the resources of the north-west European continental shelf together with a comprehensive description of the environment. Introducing the shelf region as if it were a new country, Jack Hardisty explores first its physical environment and then summarizes the distribution and exploitation of resources from the environment. Part 1 – on the oceanography - covers the shape of the shelf, its geological history and its wave and tidal regimes. Part 2 – on the resources – looks at trade and shipping, and the hydrocarbon, fishing and seabed mining industries. It goes on to discuss wave and tidal power, and to consider the problem of pollution in terms of resource utilization. The industrial technology and the environmental potential of each resource are examined, and the economic and legislative restrictions are analysed.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Throughout Britain's history, one factor above all others has determined the fate of the nation: its navy. N. A. M. Rodger's definitive account reveals how the political and social progress of Britain has been inextricably intertwined with the strength - and weakness - of its sea power, from the desperate early campaigns against the Vikings to the defeat of the great Spanish Armada. Covering policy, strategy, ships, recruitment and weapons, this is a superb tapestry of nearly 1,000 years of maritime history. 'No other historian has examined the subject in anything like the detail found here. The result is an outstanding example of narrative history' Barry Unsworth, Sunday Telegraph