Warships powered by the wind roamed the oceans during the Golden Age of Sail, from the Spanish Armada (1588) to the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). Initially troop transports commanded by army officers evolved into vessels designed to conduct battles at sea. In the 16th century, the sailing warship replaced the cathedral as the most complicated human creation the world had ever seen. The anatomy of a sailing ship dictates how it can be maneuvered, and how its weapons can be brought to bear on an enemy.

The Houston Martime Museum hosts a lecture that explores how the evolution of ship design changed the course of history, and how powerful navies enabled the spread of British, Spanish, Portuguese and American influences around the globe.