Since ancient times, empires have competed for mastery of the seas. The industrial age brought a new breed of warship: Made of steel, powered by propellers and steam, and loaded with BIG GUNS. To create them, whole new technologies were born, refined, mastered, and then discarded. Vast fleets were built one decade and sold for scrap the next while, despite all the “progress,” communication between ships was done with flags, with predictable results.

Battleships traces the development of these ships from their origins to their eclipse. Monstrous, magnificent machines became status symbols for the competing powers – and ravaged their treasuries in the process. They created the Empire of Japan, built and maintained the British Empire, spearheaded Germany’s expansionist aims, and sank in Pearl Harbor when technology passed them by. During their brief age they fought spectacular battles, most deciding little.

We’ll learn of incredible heroism, equally astonishing blunders, and the march of follies that lies at the root of war. Most importantly, we’ll learn the stories of the people, famous and obscure, who envisioned, designed, built, sailed – and sometimes perished in – Battleships. The format for this class will be lecture and discussion.