I) Galleys were warships that were driven by oars
in battle and equipped with sails for cruising. II) The earliest galleys about which much is known were Greek and Phoenician warships of early classical times. III) The largest of these were biremes, which had two banks of oars. IV) By the time of the Persian Wars, the Greeks were also using triremes, galleys with three banks of oars. V) Slaves were forced to pull the oars, and were treated very cruelly.