Historian M. B. Synge narrates how naval power grew in importance from the 1700s onward, playing a decisive role in the victories of several nations and their Empires.

The advancing technology of shipping made their use in warfare evermore plausible. Ships could maneuver faster, were better armed with decks devoted to cannon, while signals between vessels allowed an admiral or commander to better coordinate his fleet. In narrating the histories of several countries, Synge demonstrates how ships became both emblematic and instrumental of power - the Boston tea party, whereby ships were emptied of their cargo in protests against British taxation, was a pivotal event leading to the establishment of the USA.

Prior to the late 1700s, ships were mainly viewed in the context of exploration, harassment or conquest of coastal settlements, or piracies, with large-scale successes for militaries at sea only rarely seen. Yet the stunning victories of Admiral Nelson of England placed naval power at the forefront, while the establishment of prospering colonies in places as far-flung as Australia made the economic importance of navies obvious. In describing a series of battles and events, M. B. Synge builds his common theme: that navies would drive change in the world like never before.