The earliest empires to have a naval force are assumed to be the Greeks, using Phoenician shipbuilders, and they were ramming enemy ships back in seventh century BCE. The Achaemenid Empire, Persia, began amassing a naval force in the 5th century BC. Their first ships were also built by Phoenicians and were 40 meters in length and 6 meters in width, carrying 300 soldiers.
Chola Dynasty, India, was one of the greatest naval powers from 300 BC to 1279 AD. The Romans were land-based by nature and their sea battles, such as the Punic Wars, owed much to their servants. The Ancient Egyptians had efficient lengthy boats for centuries but these were predominantly used for transporting goods up the Nile.