The History of Piracy. From Vikings to the Present Day

A compact but detailed work by Peter Lehr, one of the world's leading specialists in maritime security and counter-terrorism. The scholar avoids the romanticization of pirate life common in modern culture and examines piracy as a business, exploring the interests... behind it. The author analyzes the motives for choosing this risky "profession" and the economic reasons for the phenomenon, highlighting the role of the state in promoting piracy throughout history: from the privateers sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth I to modern-day bandits operating off the coast of Africa.
In three parts, Lehr provides a detailed and comprehensive picture of the emergence, development, and decline (albeit incomplete) of global piracy - he discusses crusader pirates, exotic vakaus and orang laut, buccaneers and privateers, pirate ports and lairs, raids on cities and the "good life," robotic ships, hostage behavior rules, and advanced strategies for protecting vessels from attacks.