The first recorded naval battle took place in 1210 BC between the Egyptians and the Sea Peoples. This battle marked the beginning of organized naval warfare.

The Greeks invented the trireme, a powerful warship with three rows of oars, around the 7th century BC. These ships played a crucial role in Greek naval dominance.

The Battle of Salamis in 480 BC was a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. The Greek navy's victory over the Persians secured Greek independence and shaped Western civilization.

The Vikings were master shipbuilders and navigators. Their longships, designed for speed and versatility, allowed them to raid and trade across Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries.

The Byzantine Empire developed the dromon, a fast and agile warship equipped with Greek fire, an incendiary weapon that could burn on water. This gave the Byzantines a significant advantage in naval battles.

The Battle of Sluys in 1340 was a decisive naval engagement during the Hundred Years' War. The English fleet's victory over the French ensured English control of the English Channel.

Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492, sponsored by Spain, led to the discovery of the New World. This event marked the beginning of European colonization in the Americas.

The Portuguese developed the caravel, a small, highly maneuverable ship that could sail against the wind. This innovation allowed them to explore the African coast and establish trade routes to India.

The Spanish Armada's defeat in 1588 by the English navy marked the decline of Spanish naval dominance and the rise of England as a major naval power.

The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 was a pivotal naval engagement during the Napoleonic Wars. Admiral Nelson's victory over the French and Spanish fleets ensured British naval supremacy for over a century.

The USS Constitution, launched in 1797, is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Known as "Old Ironsides," it earned its nickname during the War of 1812 when British cannonballs bounced off its hull.

The Battle of the Nile in 1798 saw Admiral Nelson's fleet destroy the French navy, cutting off Napoleon's supply lines and securing British control of the Mediterranean.

The HMS Warrior, launched in 1860, was the world's first iron-hulled warship. Its design revolutionized naval architecture and rendered wooden warships obsolete.

The Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862 was the first clash between ironclad warships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. This battle marked the end of the era of wooden warships.

The sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915 played a significant role in bringing the United States into World War I.

The Battle of Midway in 1942 was a turning point in the Pacific Theater. The US Navy's victory over the Japanese fleet shifted the balance of power in the Pacific.

The D-Day invasion in 1944 involved the largest amphibious assault in history, with over 5,000 ships supporting the Allied landings on the beaches of Normandy.

The sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941 was a major victory for the Allies. The Bismarck had been a significant threat to Allied shipping in the Atlantic.

The USS Nautilus, launched in 1954, was the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. Its ability to remain submerged for extended periods revolutionized submarine warfare.

The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 saw a tense naval blockade by the US Navy, preventing Soviet ships from delivering nuclear missiles to Cuba.

The Falklands War in 1982 highlighted the importance of aircraft carriers and modern naval aviation. The British victory over Argentina demonstrated the effectiveness of carrier-based operations.

The novel "Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville, published in 1851, is a classic tale of obsession and revenge set aboard a whaling ship.

The movie "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," based on the novels by Patrick O'Brian, depicts the adventures of a British naval captain during the Napoleonic Wars.

The television series "Vikings" dramatizes the exploits of legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok and his seafaring warriors.

The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor commemorates the sailors who lost their lives during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941.

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, houses an extensive collection of naval artifacts and exhibits, including Admiral Nelson's uniform from the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial in Hawaii allows visitors to explore the ship where the Japanese surrender was signed, ending World War II.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City features the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, which served in World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War.