1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910793676903321

Autore

Lehr Peter

Titolo

Pirates : a new history, from Vikings to Somali raiders / / Peter Lehr

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Haven, CT : , : Yale University Press, , [2019]

©2019

ISBN

0-300-18223-6

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (320 pages)

Disciplina

910.4/5

Soggetti

Piracy - History

Pirates - History

History

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Maps and Illustrations -- Introduction: The Sudden Return of Piracy -- Part I: Distinct Regions, ad 700 to 1500 -- Part II: The Rise of European Sea Power, 1500 to 1914 -- Part III: A Globalised World, 1914 to the Present -- Conclusion: Back with a Vengeance -- Glossary -- Endnotes -- Bibliography -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

A global account of pirates and their modus operandi from the middle ages to the present day 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.