From ancient times, the principal warship of the Mediterranean Sea was the oared galley, which was used to ram and sink opposing ships.
From ancient times, the principal warship of the Mediterranean Sea was the oared
Control of the sea and protection of merchant shipping were important for many Mediterranean civilizations. Although the
The bow of a Greek trireme, which employed three banks of rowers to achieve the superior speed, handling, and power that enabled Athens’s growth as an imperial power in the mid-fifth century
The stern of a Greek trireme, which employed three banks of rowers to achieve the superior speed, handling, and power that enabled Athens’s growth as an imperial power in the mid-fifth century
The oared galley also predominated in the Atlantic Ocean for many centuries. Raiders such as the
The oared galley remained the dominant warship until the development of the
The Greek civilization was one of the first to develop naval power. The first Greek warships, consisting of a single level of oarsmen with one rower per oar, were called
The design of the trireme slowly evolved during the Hellenistic Age into that of a much larger and bulkier vessel. To increase the ship’s speed and power, extra men were added to each bank of oars, leading to
Among the most important reasons for the construction of larger ships were technological advances in weaponry. The torsion
When Demetrius Poliorcetes attacked Rhodes in 305
During the First Punic
After its final defeat of Carthage in the second century
The
Perhaps the best-known offensive weapon of the Byzantine fleet was “Greek
The sea battle at Actium, 31
Dromons also carried other offensive weapons, for both long-distance attacks and close ship-to-ship action. They had large
Byzantine naval supremacy remained unchallenged until the seventh century reign of the Byzantine emperor
Although the Byzantines were successful in fending off Arab attacks on Constantinople, they were less successful in 1204
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Warship. Documentary. Public Broadcasting Service, 2002.
Galleys to Galleons
Naval Development: The Age of Sail
Naval Development: The Age of Propulsion
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