Ive been studying european history from ancient greece and egypt all the way to the byzantine empire. Im amazed because it seems like the byzantine dromon was the same as a mycenian greek bireme- even though a millenia seperated those empires . Were navies on the Mediterranean really bascially unchanged for 1500 years? Using a square sail, banks of oars, and a ram? Or even scandinavian longships, similarly set up but with no ram or deck

When did the rigged ships of the line finally change that, and where?

It seems that until the cannon was invented, naval combat was very primitive and not very innovative. With the exception of greek fire in the 8th century byzantine navy. Im having a lot of trouble even finding good models or examples of navies through the early middle ages

Thanks