I found this quote in my readings for my "British Imperialism and the Royal Navy" tutorial this summer. I think it adequately sums up why I'm interested in these studies, not very feminine, I know, but the deeper theme is what I most appreciate:
"Take it all in all, a ship of the line is the most honorable thing that man, as a gregarious animal, has ever produced. By himself, unhelped, he can do better things than ships of the line; he can make poems and pictures...But as a being living in flocks, and hammering out, with alternative strokes and mutual agreement, what is necessary for him, in these flocks, to get of produce, the ship of the line is his first work. Into that he has put as much of his human patience, common sense, forethought, experimental philosophy, self-control, habits of order and obedience, thoroughly wrought handwork, defiance of brute elements, careless courage, careful patriotism, and calm expectation of the judgment of God, as can well be put into a space of 300 feet long by 80 broad. And I am thankful to have lived in an age when I could see this thing so done."
John Ruskin, 1856