City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

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

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-255) and index

platesmapsillustrations

index present

non fiction

Pirates

bibliographydictionaries

Peter Lehr

a new history, from Vikings to Somali raiders

Introduction: The sudden return of piracy -- Part I: Distinct regions, AD 700 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