Evolution Of Modern Pirates

Somalia is one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries (Campbell). Because of the Civil War, which broke out in 1991, much of Somalia’s economy has been devastated. The war left many

During the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries, piracy was rampant in the Atlantic, specifically in the West Indies. Piracy has existed since the earliest days of ocean travel, for a range of personal and economic reasons. However, one of the major reasons why piracy was wide spread and rampant in the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries was Great Britain’s endorsement and usage of piracy as an asset; in wars fought in the New World. Great Britain with its expanding power and conflicts with other nations would make piracy a lifestyle and lay down the foundation for the Golden Age of Piracy and eventually bring what it created to a screeching halt.

For years and years the leaders of Tripoli which is located in the Middle East had been taking over merchant ships from either the Americans or the or the Europeans. The Tripoli pirates would take over ships and sell

The Barbary pirates operated off the coast of North Africa since the time of the Crusades. The pirates were essentially sponsored by the Arab rulers in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. They are said to have sailed as far north as Iceland, attacking ports, taking captive people as slaves, and plundering merchant ships. Most countries found it easier and cheaper to bribe the pirates instead of fighting them in a war. Seafaring nations would

“After the 1890 season, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys signed several players from rival American Association teams- including the Philadelphia Athletics star second baseman Lou Bierbauer. The Philadelphia team loudly protested the move, complaining to league officials that the Alleghenys’ actions were “piratical.” The Alleghenys made sport of being denounced for being “piratical” by renaming themselves the Pirates for the 1891 season.” Pirates have had a strong presence throughout the ages; their presence has often garnered acknowledgment from governments- both foreign and domestic. For the most part, pirates are more real than ninjas based upon their presence and the acknowledgment of their existence by governments throughout history.

Under The Black Flag , a book written by David Cordingly expressed the reality and myths behind piracy. He clearly states in the introduction of the book that his aim “is to examine the popular image of pirates today, to find out where this image came from, and to compare it with the real world of the pirates” (Cordingly xiv). Along with his aim his thesis is also stated in the introduction of his book, which essentially states that the views by everyday people of pirates consists of a mixture of facts, and many other things such as romantic novels and films. He successfully informs readers of the history behind many important misconceptions of common beliefs. Although some of the things every person has learned about a pirate growing up may

When pirates come aboard ships they rarely are looking to kill anyone,they steal cargo and money. Piracy in Somalia is mostly caused because of money-seekers that have threatened their families if the pirates do not do what they ask. Since we have weak laws on piracy there is more of a chance that the likelihood of piracy happening is way higher than ever. Somalia has a big coastline 3,025 km to be exact, this is one of the reasons why it is very common to see a lot of piracy events happen close to Somalia. The other reason is because a lot of big shipping ports come through the Arabian sea.

The Atlantic pirates were after gold or booty as Disney producers portray it to be, but this wasn’t there main goal, instead the Atlantic pirate’s main goal was revenge. After several centuries of poverty and being in the bottom social rank people took to themselves to solve their economic problems by going against king and machinists. Many of these pirates either had worked for this mechanist or for the kingdom’s fleet. As stated by Dr. Marcus Rediker “Merchant seamen got a hard, close look at death: disease and accidents were commonplace in their occupation, rations were often meager and discipline was brutal… Some pirates had served in the navy where conditions aboard ship were no less harsh” (Rediker 206-207). These severe conditions were the driving force for revenge at whatever the cost maybe. The previous experience of being at sea made these pirates very knowledgeable because they also knew that the American colonies were doing their own thing. Even though they were

Piracy began in the early 1600s and started dying off during the 1700s. It was known as the “Golden Age of Piracy”.1 Pirates such as Blackbeard and Privateers such as Sir Francis Drake sailed the seas causing chaos in early America.2 America had a feeble Navy, therefore, they had no means of defense against the Pirates.3 Once the pirate hunters and naval expeditions started to pursue the pirates, they started dying out.4 During the Golden Age of Piracy, pirates would raid and plunder whatever ship they came across, regardless of who was on board. They would attack merchant ships with no mercy, even if it belonged to their own nation.5 Most merchant ships would have a tiny crew of eighteen, untrained, poorly armed men.

Throughout history pirates have terrorized the world's seas. There are few men that have been feared as much as pirates were. Names such as pirate, buccaneer, and privateer were given to these men and women that terrorized the seas. Black Sam Bellamy, Bartholomew Roberts, Jean Lafitte, Stede Bonnet, and Ann Bonny are some of the most feared names know to man. These were the names of pirates that dominated the seas during the 1600's and 1700's, a time known as the "Golden Age of Piracy." However, one of the greatest pirates of all time was the great Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard. He terrorized the seas for most of his gruesome life during this era. The "Golden Age of Piracy" marked a time when sea travel was unsafe for everyone,

I’m doing my pirate project on Sir John Hawkins. Hawkins was born in Plymouth, England in 1532.When he was young he took a good amount of voyages to the canary islands where he learned the profits of selling African slaves in Spain's American colonies. He would make profit from slave trading because at the time the Spanish colonies had ready markets waiting for a good price on slaves. That is why slave trading was a popular job for pirates around that time.

Pirate, privateer, Cosarios luteranos, and buccaneer are all names given to skilled ocean-sailing vigilantes that survived off of goods they plundered from others. Pirates drastically altered life in the Caribbean. They controlled both the islands and the sea during the 1500's, which is accurately nicknamed "The Golden Age of Piracy." Begining with British Protestants, piracy spread throughout the New World like wild fire. Notorious criminals in search of wealth overseas, known as pirates, lived harsh lives and left a major impact on Caribbean history.

When the word pirate is mentioned, many people think of ship carrying men across the seas as they pillage other ships. While this is true to some extent there was much more to the lives of the men that were known as pirates. Pirates were mostly men from French, English or Dutch heritage, and were privateers or merchants. Many of these men were sanctioned by their government. By the Spanish they were call piratas or unsanctioned sea-raiders, and would have a heavy influence of trade in the Caribbean and on the Spanish Empire.

Piracy in Somalia has come about due to years of internal fighting and weakened government. With the overthrow of the president in 1991, Somalia has been a complete anarchy with only the laws of rival clans who have been in power. Though long before that the country has been in constant war between the people of the country because money and food have been always been scarce. Small amounts of money have been made through some exports but the real money came from the fishing off the coast. Recently because of the lack of laws commercial fisherman from all over the world have been over-fishing the waters and leaving the Somalis with too few fish to survive. European companies have used this lack of laws as a way to easily dump their

Today, piracy has resurfaced, but in smaller numbers. It is centered mainly around the Middle East on important waterways. For instance, Somalia and the Gulf of Aden are hotspots for pirates, because the passing cargo ships are full of supplies for African relief (May, Laura. “History of Piracy”).