Pirateering -

The foundations of pirateering lie in the 17th and 18th centuries, a period when emerging naval powers could not afford standing fleets. To compensate, nations issued . These documents transformed common pirates into "privateers," legally authorizing them to attack and plunder enemy merchant vessels in exchange for a share of the spoils. This historical "pirateering" allowed states to:

As European powers increased their naval presence and cooperation, pirateering became more difficult and less profitable. The rise of steam-powered ships and modern naval technology further reduced the opportunities for pirates. pirateering