What is a Pirate?
A pirate is someone who commits robberies at sea, usually without being appointed to do so by any particular nation. While the word pirate brings to mind sea-fearing heroes of the last century, the truth is that piracy is still commonplace around the world. Moreover, a pirate has become a symbol of a commonplace criminal off the Somali and Singapore coasts and in the waters between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where pirates are responsible for losses of up to $16 billion per year. In the past, a pirate was one of the most feared criminals. As early as 13th century BCE, pirates were already terrorizing the Aegean Sea, destroying vessels and pilfering riverside villages. By the Middle Ages, a pirate had become a symbol of an era plagued by violence, fear, and prosecution. The Golden Era of piracy, which extended from 1560 until well into the second part of the 18th century, was centered in the Caribbean. Tortuga Island and Port Royal were the two most famous pirate-centers in the Carib
