Piracy, History of

Since the 1980s piracy has emerged as an international problem, raising the concern of national governments as well as ship owners and transportation companies. However, piracy is an old phenomenon, dating back to the beginning of seafaring, and the analysis of its history and causes can facilitate the understanding of its modern manifestations. This contribution traces the history of maritime piracy, identifying geographical, political and socio-economic conditions that facilitated the birth and development of the phenomenon