Luce, whom he had previously sailed with during the Civil War. Later that in that same year while in Lima, Peru, Mahan formulated his most famous piece of work, The Influence of Sea Power upon History. After his book was actually published 1890, it was not initially favored by American leaders, but quickly caught the attention and recognition of other foreign Navies allowing Alfred Mahan to become a "house-hold name".
According to In Peace and War The Influence of Sea Power upon History outlined and argued that these points, along with other factors, were crucial to The United States' rise to a great world power; The construction of a canal in Central America, the expansion of U.S. naval power, and the establishment of trade/military posts in the Pacific, as a means to stimulate trade with China. This book placed a strong emphasis on the idea that a strong navy stimulated trade, and influenced policy makers such as Theodore Roosevelt and other key proponents of a large navy. Mahan argued that having command of the sea was a sole determining factor in the United Stated fulling its manifest destiny in becoming the most powerful nation. and that sea power was the decisive factor in war. This made many aspect of his work prophetic; such as his foreshadowing a great war with Germany and Japan. However, although Mahan possessed great insight and prophecy, there was some fault in his arguments.
According to In Peace and War, Mahan's theory did not always match logic. For example in his essay Fleet Battle Tactics, he constructed tactics that in theory, were perfectly designed and orchestrated in such a manner that the opposing enemy's fleet would fall one by one securing victory with ease. However, as Rear Admiral Luce pointed out to him, his ideas were unrealistic due to conflict with his vision of these perfect ships and their actual designs, and also that in a war like situation the enemy's course of action would be immensely different rather than how he perceived it.
