The History of Piracy. From Vikings to the Present Day

A compact yet thorough work by Peter Lehr, one of the world’s leading experts on maritime security and counter-terrorism. The scholar avoids the romanticization of pirate life common in contemporary culture and views 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 encouraging piracy throughout history: from privateers sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth I to modern-day criminals operating off the coast of Africa.In three parts, Lehr provides a detailed and expansive picture of the emergence, development, and decline (albeit incomplete) of global piracy—discussing crusader pirates, exotic waka and orang-louts, 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.