By: Patrycja Kopec

Henry Morgan Blackbeard Anne Bonny William Kidd Mary Read

The oldest evidence of the pirates' existence is an inscription on a clay tablet from the time of Pharo Echnaton (1350 BC). This document describes a pirates' ship attacking in North Africa. There is also an epigraphic evidence from the 340's, from Athens. The piracy was a common thing during the Ancient Greek and the Ancient Roman age. The ships from those times used to sail near the coast, which made them the easy targets to the pirates. The Greek's pirate base was in the Lipari Islands for over 2500 years and Rome 's was Istria. Greek pirates, Illyrian, had their attack on Roman's ships in the Adriatic Sea. Therefore, Rome attacked Illyrians twice after that. Since 10th century BC, Dorian Greek pirates had been based in Crete. This lasted for over 800 years. In the 2nd century BC, the eastern Mediterranean was under the supervision of the Rhodeans. There were several attempts to stop piracy. Soon, Crete was not a comfortable place for the pirates anymore. Cilician pirates were famous, too. Cilicia was also on the territory of today's Turkey, on the southern shore of Asia Minor. The great geographic position, near Egyptian and Palestinian sea lines, made Cilicia an ideal place for the pirates' haven. It became the home of numerous pirates. Cilicia was the biggest pirate haven of the ancient times. On the top of their strength, these pirates almost destroyed Rome Empire. After that, Pompey the Great almost ruined them in 67 BC. Cilician pirates are best known for capturing Julius Caesar in 78 BC and keeping him on Pharmacua till the ransom was paid. However, Caesar had his revenge. His people killed all pirates responsible for his kidnapping.

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