The renowned galleys of Venetian times were built as both trading ships and men-of-war, combining features of both types of vessel.
Up until the 19th century, ships plying the Aegean were chiefly made of wood. The replacement of oars by sails was gradual, involving a transitional period in which a combination of the two was used.
The fact that galleys required large crews of between 80 and 150 oarsmen led to the grievous exploitation of Aegean communities.
All types of merchant vessel and warship, such as the galea grossa, galea sottil and the galeone called in at the harbour at Chandax. Locally grown timber was the main material used in the town shipyards, which produced large numbers of such vessels.
Naval architect (J. Grevembroch, Abiti de' Venezian, Museo Civico Correr, Venice)
Oar workshop (Museo Civico Correr, Venice)
Shipyard repairs in the 17th century (Archivio di Stato, Venice)
Plan of an 18th century galley, copied from an earlier plan by Coronelli (Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris)
18th century ship with portholes for 70 cannon (Archivio di Stato, Venice)
Type of galley in use in 18th & 19th century
