Pirates are not just a word from the past they are in today’s headlines today. Pirates have operated all over the world for many thousands of years. If there is a ship with a cargo anywhere in the world, there will be a pirate making and attempt to take it.

First off let us take a look at the international definition of piracy. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, piracy consists of any criminal acts of violence, detention, or depredation committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or aircraft that is directed on the high seas against another ship, aircraft, or against persons or property on board a ship or aircraft. This definition covers acts which take place with in the jurisdiction of a state and outside the jurisdiction of any state. So, pretty much no matter where piracy occurs it falls under UNCLOS.

The English "pirate" is derived from the Latin term pirata and that from Greek πειρατής (peirates), or brigand. This in turn comes from peira, πεῖρα, or attempt, experience, implicitly to find luck on the sea. The word is also cognate to peril. From time to time in17th and 18th century sources the word is rendered pyrate. This meaning of the term does not exclusively relate to robbery committed at sea, as other similar origins have a broader definition.

The earliest reports of pirates come to us from the 13th century BC in accounts from the Greeks. They refer to the Sea People and the troubles through out the Aegean Sea. Piracy is reported down through history and even has affected some of histories biggest names. Julius Caesar is reported to have been taken captive by pirates in 75BC. Saint Patrick was taken by Irish pirates during the Roman rule of Britain.

Blackbeard, Sir Francis Drake, Chevalier de Grammont, Calico Jack Rackham, and Captain Kidd were all famous pirates in and around the Caribbean. Even some famous sea captains have been called pirates by the other team. Sir Walter Raleigh was called a pirate by both the Spanish and French. At different times countries would actually support or endorse piracy. During the War of 1812 the US government issued Letter of marquee and reprisal to private persons wishing to become a privateer. Of course from the stand point of the other guy these were pirates and dealt with accordingly.

Once a pirate took a ship they would either keep the new ship for their own or strip it of everything of value and then burn the rest. Some ships were taken to a neutral port and sold. The key to a pirate’s life was making sure they could stay a step or two ahead of the authorities. They would take prizes sell them, trade them, or hide them to avoid capture. Stories of hidden pirate treasure are still told to children world wide. Some might be true, however most are just stories.

Pirates today still prowl the world’s oceans. The traditional homes of pirates in some places have remained constant and others have ceased to exist. The two current hot spots are the Straights of Malacca and the Gulf of Aden. These two spots have been active for as long as pirates have roamed the waves. Today’s pirate captures a ship for blackmail. They no longer wish to keep the cargo or the ship. They are only wishing to receive money from the ships owners.

As long as the seas are used to transport commerce and passengers pirates will roam the seas.