| Description |
ix, 261 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-255) and index. |
| Contents |
List of maps and illustrations -- Introduction: The sudden return of piracy -- Part I: Distinct regions, AD700 to 1500. Joining the wicked order -- God wills it -- Turning a blind eye -- There was no choice -- Spotting ships at sea -- Overwhelming the prey -- Raiding the coasts -- Pirate violence -- Efforts to end piracy on land -- Efforts to end piracy at sea -- Hunting pirates -- Attacking pirate bases -- Part II: The rise of European sea power, 1500 to 1914. Seeking a merry life and a short one -- Tars, gents and traders -- Piracy brings no disgrace -- The lure of easy money -- Pirate ports -- The pirate queen and her courtiers -- Raffish instruments of foreign policy -- Acquiring a suitable vessel -- Stalking and capturing the prey -- Desperate battles at sea -- High-end piracy -- Whoring, drinking and gambling -- Typical ends of pirate careers -- The pitfalls of co-opting former pirates -- Hunting the hunters -- Anti-piracy alliances -- The apparent demise of piracy -- Part III: A globalised world, 1914 to the present. They were rich, we were poor -- The winds of change -- Modern enabling environments -- A new raffish instrument -- The modern pirate fleet -- Guise and guile in modern times -- Shock and awe today -- The 'uniquely violent nature' of Nigerian piracy -- Modern pirates' modus operandi -- Modern variants of the merry life -- Piracy and the law -- Citadels and robot ships -- Hunting pirates at sea -- Counter-measures on pirate shores -- Conclusion: Back with a vengeance -- Glossary -- Endnotes -- Bibliography -- Index. |
| Summary |
In the twenty-first century piracy has regained a central place in Western culture, thanks to a surprising combination of Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as well as the dramatic rise of modern-day piracy around Somalia and the Horn of Africa. In this global history of the phenomenon, maritime terrorism and piracy expert Peter Lehr casts fresh light on pirates. Ranging from the Vikings and Wako pirates in the Middle Ages to modern day Somali pirates, Lehr delves deep into what motivates pirates and how they operate. He also illuminates the state's role in the development of piracy throughout history: from privateers sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth to pirates operating off the coast of Africa taking the law into their own hands. After exploring the structural failures which create fertile ground for pirate activities, Lehr evaluates the success of counter-piracy efforts--and the reasons behind its failures. |
| Subject |
Piracy -- History.
|
| ISBN |
9780300180749 hardcover |
|
0300180748 hardcover |
|
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