The Seven Years War

The Seven Years' War (1756-63) was the first global war, fought in Europe, India, and America, and at sea.

The new factor which dramatically altered the course of history was British sea power. With the support of the navy, a few thousand men dispossessed the French of their fledgling North American empire and saw them, and the Dutch, utterly vanquished in India. Attacks on Cuba and the Philippines crippled the Spanish Empire. In this vivid account of this first 'modern' war, the author uses the testimony of eyewitnesses to dramatic effect.