So unless you’ve been living in a yurt somewhere, you’ve probably heard about the Saudi super-tanker that was hijacked by modern-day pirates off the East African coast last week.

In honor of the event (which is, by the way, a pretty big deal – and not just because of the potential for hilarious pirate puns*) the CBC has posted this thoughtful, comprehensive look at pirates and piracy through the ages – from the ancient Phoenicians through to the Barbary Coast, Captain Jack Sparrow and beyond.

Check it out.

*Hilarious puns aside, what this really means (besides big oil taking the opportunity to knock prices up a notch or two) is further proof that Somalia is a total basket case, a failed state, and that basket case nations aren’t good news for anyone. Least of all their own citizens.

Photo by Jan Tik (Creative Commons)

 
 

About The Author

Eva Holland

Eva Holland is a freelance writer, Senior Editor of World Hum and a longtime contributor to the Matador community. She lives in Canada’s Yukon Territory and blogs about Alaska and Yukon travel at Travelers North.

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