Barbary Pirates

The Barbary Pirates were maritime raiders based along North Africa's coast, particularly in present-day Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia, from the 16th to 19th centuries. They targeted European ships and coastal towns, capturing crew members for ransom or sale into slavery. Often working from autonomous states known as the Barbary States, they disrupted Mediterranean trade and challenged European and American naval efforts. European powers and the United States eventually fought against them, leading to treaties that curtailed their piracy. Their actions had significant economic and political impacts, shaping the history of Mediterranean maritime relations.