Final answer:
The era of sail concluded at the end of the 19th century with the rise of steam-powered ships, despite significant sailing innovations from earlier centuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The era of sail is considered to have come to a close at the end of the 19th century with the advent of steam-powered ships. Despite maritime technologies from non-Western origins propelling European exploration from the 15th century—such as the lateen sail and the sternpost rudder enabling maneuverability against the wind and currents—these innovations eventually succumbed to the efficiency and reliability of steam propulsion. The transition wasn't instant, and sail and steam coexisted for a period, with steamships becoming more dominant due to their ability to travel faster and not be dependent on wind conditions. In the final decades of the 1800s, ocean-going travel and commerce had increasingly shifted to steam, marking the end of the sailing ships' dominance of the seas.