Most histories of piracy start with swashbuckling adventures in the Caribbean in the 1500s and move on to the Golden Age of piracy from the 1660s to the 1720s. These areas cannot be overlooked, but in fact, piracy has a much longer and broader history to its name. This comprehensive history starts with piracy in the ancient and classical periods, and then shifts to piracy in the Middle Ages and the Mediterranean, before treating treating in fine detail the era of the Caribbean and the Golden Age. Also included are chapters on the Barbary corsairs, Chinese piracy, and a look at modern piracy.

Most histories of piracy start with swashbuckling adventures in the Caribbean in the 1500s and move on to the Golden Age of piracy from the 1660s to the 1720s. These areas cannot be overlooked, but in fact, piracy has a much longer and broader history to its name. This comprehensive history starts with piracy in the ancient and classical periods, and then shifts to piracy in the Middle Ages and the Mediterranean, before treating treating in fine detail the era of the Caribbean and the Golden Age. Also included are chapters on the Barbary corsairs, Chinese piracy, and a look at modern piracy.