Warships evolution - I'm confused

[Morar Andrei]

I like military history, but there is one thing I never understood completely: how did the warships evolve? I know something about the Ancient ships, the 18-19th century ones, the WW1 and WW2 and a bit about moder ships. But there are two large periods I really don't understand and I find them very strange and unclear:

- the transition from the ancient galleys to the giant ships full with cannons (in short, naval warfare and ship aspect in Middle Ages, until battle of Lepanto - if there were already ships with cannons and large sails, why did they still use galleys, even with a bunch of cannons? My History teacher told me such ships have been used in the Mediteranean Sea until the 18th century )

- mid 19th century (transition from wooden ships to metal ones, first metal battleships, monitors, ironclads, then the transition to the more classic Dreadnought Class battleship)

Edited March 7, 2018 by Morar Andrei

[Morar Andrei]

What can I find out?

[Taz]

Well one reason why the ironclad was developed was as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. 

[Morar Andrei]

 

Well one reason why the ironclad was developed was as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. 

Yeah, I heard stories about ironclads fighting each other not being able to penetrate the armour of the enemy because the armament of the ships was not powerful enaugh.