As trade via sea routes began to play a more important role, consequently ship-navigation developed significantly (Theognis, extract 179-180 in West, 1993). During the period 700 - 480 BC there is an increased maritime activity, which is characterized by the foundation of colonies in Northern Aegean, north-east of the Black Sea and in the West, as well as by the development of trade relations with Egypt. In the 6th century BC, Sparta begins to question the maritime power of Samos, which rules the Aegean with the support of tyrant Polycrates. During that same time Aegina and Athens were in conflict over the control of their region's sea routes.

As a result, shipbuilding was forced to adjust to the new reality, but also to correspond to new demands. Information about ships of that period is found in the descriptions of lyric poets, who do not hesitate to adopt the language of Homer's epics. Archilochus and Solon name them tachytata (very fast), Alcaeus mavra (black) (Alcaeus, z 24 in Lobel-Page, Poetarum Lesbiorum Fragmenta, 1955). The first references to ship types such as the pentecontor and the trireme are found: as for the first one in Archilochus, who informs us about the transport of an ambassador to Paros (Archilochus, Tetram. extract 51 in Diehl3), and as for the second one in Hipponax (Hipponax, Iamb.Lib.Inc. extract 45 in Diehl3).

Warships, the so-called makrai neai (long ships), were used since the 8th century BC. Later, they were reinforced in the prow with the ram, thus augmenting their offensive ability. From this point on, their role was dissociated from that of traders.

The pentecontors (fifty-oared ships) were extensively used for transporting goods as well as in war campaigns, mainly by the Phocaeans (Herodotus, Historia 1.163). Their role was very important, precisely because of their ability to sail against the stream and confront enemy ships along dangerous coastlines and passes. They were the fittest for raids, piracy and for transporting goods and troops. They were considered the chief warships before the trireme appeared (Thucydides, Histories 1.14). The Greeks also used the triantacontors, that is ships with 30 oars.

In the 6th century BC, a new warship was used widely the trireme, with three banks of oars and 170 oarsmen. According to Thucydides, first the Corinthians built it already since the 7th century BC (Thucydides, Histories 1.13). According to another and more likely opinion, it was built in the Aegean region around 530 BC, in the time of Polycrates, and its design was influenced by the Phoenicians' ships. Lastly, other scholars maintain that the Corinthians were the ones who designed this new ship and that possibly Polycrates was the first to use the trireme instead of the pentecontors.

The chief traders, the strogylai neai (round ships), had high and round prow and stern and spacious hold. In the 7th century BC, they were equipped with large sails and auxiliary oars -thus increasing their speed- and with an anchor. Their hull stayed the same during the following periods too. The chief traders were called olkades and later Aristotle compared them to large insects with tiny wings.