Piracy in SomaliaWhat is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word pirate? Even today, pirates roam the oceans in search of loot; not necessarily treasure, but food, money, or supplies needed for survival. This research paper will examine the history of piracy, along with the causes and effects of pirate-related activities and why piracy still exists. What exactly is piracy? Well, it is the practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea. The basic concept behind piracy has remained the same for thousands of years, dating back to the 14th century BC “An inscription on an Egyptian clay tablet depicted a group of people being attacked on the coast of Egypt.” (Vallar, “The History of Maritime Piracy”). However, the first clear indication of piracy originated a little later in ancient Greece, over 2,000 years ago, during the Archaic (800-500 BC) and Classical (500-320 BC) periods. Pirates intercepted ships attempting to trade goods across the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The Aegean contained numerous small islands that were used by pirates as safe havens. The term pirate, in fact, derives from the Greek word “peirato”, which referred to people who attempted to attack without authority. Homer, an ancient Greek author, first wrote about piracy in the Odyssey. Although he did not specifically advocate piracy, he stated that pirates were capable of achieving high social status. A current example can be seen off the coast of Somalia. Pirates have been a threat to international trade since the second phase of the Somali civil war, which began in 2005. Since 2005, pirates have invaded many international organizations sailing through their waters, including Ma...... i paper eaters do not kill crew members; however, there have been many scenarios that have resulted in death. The pirates also endanger the ship's members before they even board the ship. They have many weapons at their disposal, which are used to shoot targeted ships along with anyone on board. If pirates can successfully place their grappling hooks or ladders on the ship, they pose a threat to directly harm anyone on board. Another consequence of piracy in Somalia has affected the local population. “SomaliaReport and AllAfrica.com have both reported significant increases in the price of staple foods (such as sugar, rice and wheat flour) and petrol as a direct result of hijackings of commercial vessels by pirates.” (Hurlburt, “The Human Cost of Somali Piracy”). While there are other factors that can cause this increase, piracy is cited as the main reason.