After the Phoenicians, the Greeks built the first maritime empire, based on trade and war. The Mediterranean, closed sea, seemed more hospitable and were used as ways to travel from Europe to Africa, and to the Middle east. During the Greek age, between asia minor, the aegean, and greece, the interlocking network of city states between the sea and mountain saw the first maritime empire. Archers and javelineers soften the enemy until boarding allowed melee combat. Naval combat was a transposition of land combat at sea. In the bronze age, properly naval tactics were still in their infancy. Naval battles changed over time of course with advancing technology. Whatever the case, the sea became a battlefield soon in human history. In a land campaign, a landing in a non-guarded spot turned the tables. In human societies, attacking trade and blockading always has been useful tactics. The blue planet not only allowed to move populations, trade, but also became a place of conflict when the first advantages were negated. The pacific literraly covers the planet, with thin stretches of land apparent in the north, and an immense watery desert.
The huge stretch of water seems at least manageable. Most of the time, the atlantic view is chosen, revealing the two large landmasses of Europe and Africa one one side and the Americas on the other. Something of the kind was allegedly said by Herodote, at a time maps only showed the Mediterranean, and a few unknown seas plus a circular ocean, circling the globe It was not apparent then that water covered 70% of the planet surface.
A motto well-known by all naval academies around the world: Who dominates the seas rules the world.
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