This book offers a comprehensive historical study of the rise and fall of the world’s great powers from 1500 to the modern era. Paul Kennedy examines the relationship between economic strength and military power, showing how imbalances between resources and military spending led to the decline of some nations and the rise of others. The book highlights examples from European empires, the United States, and the Soviet Union, analyzing the underlying causes of their success or collapse. It is considered an essential reference for understanding global power dynamics and world history.