The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000 (Two-Volume Set) includes The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, Volume One and The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, Volume Two.
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers is divided into two volumes and offers a comprehensive comparison of the military and economic standing of nations after 1500. It explores a wide range of theoretical questions, including military power, national strength, and economic cycles. Taking a global perspective, it examines the shifting fortunes of the great powers and provides today's readers with a wealth of detailed information on changing comparisons of their economic, military, and other forms of national strength. Though the book remains within the traditional fields of economic and military history, its approach marks a fundamental change. As its author, Paul Kennedy, observed, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers is neither a military history nor an economic history. By tracing shifts in global economic power after 1500, he shows how economic and military strategies influenced one another as the great powers strove to govern effectively, enrich their nations, and strengthen their armies. Kennedy not only connects military conflicts with economic change, but also offers an integrated study of the world economy, politics, military affairs, ideas, society, geography, and diplomacy since 1500, examining the relationship between the international balance of power and the global economic order. In doing so, he paints a comprehensive picture of the era. This distinctive approach breaks with stale convention, giving the book a broad global outlook, thought-provoking ideas, abundant and meticulously documented historical evidence, and tightly reasoned arguments. When it was published in 1988, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers caused a stir in American academic, political, and literary circles and drew widespread international attention.
This book is very interesting! It analyzed the rise and fall of great powers from a global perspective and made me understand that economics and military influence each other. The book is rich in content, detailed information, and the author's views are also very novel. It reminded me of the book Money, Power and People, both of which explore the relationship between economics and power. Moreover, the characters in the book are all vivid, and their experiences and personalities impressed me deeply. I think this book is worth reading!