Which civilizations relied on oared galleys for naval warfare?

Oared galleys were the primary warships in the Mediterranean for centuries, utilized by numerous civilizations to project power and control trade routes.12

The following civilizations and powers notably relied on galley warfare:

• Ancient Civilizations: The Egyptians and Cretans were among the earliest to use sail-equipped galleys. The Phoenicians later dominated the eastern Mediterranean, refining galley design with staggered oar banks to increase speed and power for ramming.3
• Greek City-States: The Greeks were instrumental in developing the trireme, a highly nimble vessel that became the standard for Mediterranean naval combat from the 5th century BCE.12
• Rome: Initially not a naval power, Rome adopted and adapted galley technology—including the quinquereme—to defeat Carthage. They famously introduced the corvus to turn naval engagements into boarding actions.4
• Medieval Powers: Following the decline of the Roman Empire, powers such as Byzantium, Venice, and Genoa built sophisticated galleys that remained the principal warships in the Mediterranean through the 16th century.2
• Vikings: The Vikings utilized longships, which were small, versatile galleys capable of both coastal and open-sea navigation.2