Before 1815, there had been no global world power. Today in the 21st century we have become used to living with a single dominant power. We are so used to this fact that no one questions it. It is possible that ancient China might have decided to become such a power; she had the technical shipbuilding knowledge, but she showed no interest. A world power needed a superior military force, a vibrant economy to support its military might, a navy able to travel across the world, and some purpose that encompassed the world.

The key expansionary players up to 1815 had been Spain, Portugal, France, Britain, Holland, Russia, and the Ottomans. Only two of all these “great powers” - the Russians and the Ottomans - survived this revolutionary moment relatively unscathed. Spain France and Portugal lost most of their Colonies Only Britain survived with its Colonial power intact and its world role huge extended. 1750 to 1815, can usefully be understood as the first global struggle for Colonial dominance.  The second 1914 to 1945 was to come.