Why opposed landings were rarer before steam

Why were large-scale opposed landings rare before the steam era?

Attackers could usually land elsewhere, and pre-industrial states lacked the communications and mass forces needed to defend long coastlines quickly.

Before steam, an attacker normally chose an undefended landing place rather than forcing a beach under fire. Industrial warfare brought telegraphs, faster communications, mass armies, and stronger administrative systems capable of moving defenders to threatened coasts. Opposed amphibious assault became more common because states could maintain and redirect far larger defensive forces.