Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders

CONTENTS
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
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index