Why was the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 important in the history of galley warfare?

The Battle of Lepanto, fought on October 7, 1571, is historically significant as the climax and the last major engagement of the age of galley warfare in the Mediterranean.12

While the battle featured the use of early naval artillery—with galleys mounting several guns in their bows—the outcome was ultimately decided by traditional methods: boarding and intense hand-to-hand combat with swords and pikes. The engagement demonstrated the transition of the era, as the Christian fleet utilized large, heavily armed galleasses to disrupt the opposing formation before the main clash of oar-propelled vessels.12

Despite the introduction of gunpowder weapons, the battle remained a brutal, decisive melee characteristic of the galley era, resulting in enormous casualties and the destruction of numerous ships. It stands as a landmark event in naval history, representing both the peak of tactical development for oar-driven warships and the beginning of the end for their dominance in naval conflict.12