Piracy in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Sea has a long and notorious history, spanning from ancient Roman times to the 18th century. Piracy dates back to the Bronze Age in the Mediterranean, with various civilizations engaging in maritime raiding. During the Roman era, pirates posed a significant threat to trade and travel, prompting military campaigns to combat them.The medieval period saw the rise of Barbary pirates from North Africa, who terrorized Mediterranean shipping and coastal communities for centuries. These corsairs, operating under the Ottoman Empire's protection, captured ships and enslaved thousands of Europeans.In the Caribbean, piracy flourished during the 16th to 18th centuries, known as the "Golden Age of Piracy." This era was fueled by European colonial expansion and the wealth generated from New World resources. Notable pirates like Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, and Anne Bonny operated in these waters, attacking merchant ships and colonial settlements.Caribbean piracy was often intertwined with politics, with some pirates receiving official sanctions as privateers to attack enemy nations' ships. The buccaneers of the 17th century, originally hunters on Hispaniola, became a significant force in Caribbean piracy, often targeting Spanish colonies and ships.Both regions saw piracy decline in the 18th century due to increased naval patrols, stricter laws, and changing economic conditions. However, the legacy of these pirates continues to captivate popular imagination and influence cultural perceptions of maritime history.