From boarding castles to artillery warships

Carracks grew from the cog tradition, in which castles, archers, and boarding parties dominated combat. Practical cast-bronze cannon made closing to boarding range increasingly dangerous and pushed designers toward ships that could carry and fight heavier artillery. Gunfire could kill through shattered timbers and splinters even before reliably sinking an opponent became practical. Boarding remained relevant throughout the age of sail, but ranged gunfire steadily reduced its place as the principal way to decide a naval fight.