Although the term "dromon" (Greek, "runner") didn't come into parlance until Late Antiquity, it was becoming apparent especially in many civilisations that small and light ships could play a vital role in naval operatons, from the beginning of the Bronze Age. Dromon-type craft were popular to the communities that maintained contact with Byzantium (and were based off the more advanced Byzantine dromon or dromon), although longships, based off a design used by Nordic tribes, were more popular throughout the North Sea and Baltic regions.