There are two types of rope: braided rope and laid [twisted] rope. During the age of sail, almost all rope was laid rope, because it doesn't require sophisticated machinery. Braided rope has the advantage of being smoother, and that the inner (load-bearing) strands are protected from abrasion.
![braided rope and laid [twisted] rope](http://www.generalcargoship.com/Z-laid-and-S-laid-rope.jpg){kind=link}