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Chapters
A Brief History of Piracy Under Sail arrow.gif (85 bytes)
Here come the Vikings
Alfred Thayer Mahan and the Pirates
The Golden Age of Piracy
Good Copy For Novelists
World Wide Trend
Deadly South China Seas
Tamil Terrorists Go A-Pirating
Tempest in Mare Nostrum
Battles in the South Atlantic
Pirate Submarine Threat
Modern Pirate Hunters
Suggested Reading
Article Credits
Egyptian Boat

Oh To Be A (Modern) Pirate King

-or-

“Avast, Matey, Thar Still Be Pirates 
on the High Seas Today"

by Mark G. McLaughlin

 A Brief History of Piracy Under Sail

     Piracy has been a way of life and commerce since the “Sea-peoples” ravaged Pharaoh’s trade routes over 3,000 years ago.  Those peoples and their descendants and emulators dominated the Mediterranean trade routes until Pompey and Caesar eradicated them in the last century before the birth of Christ.  Although there were always brigands afloat, large, organized pirate fleets disappeared from European history for nearly 800 years.  When they did return, they returned with a vengeance.

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