Periodization of piracy in the Persian Gulf Cultural World from the British colonial perspective, 1873–1949

Abstract

So far, no in-depth analysis of piracy in the Persian Gulf Cultural World has been undertaken since 1820, when a treaty was signed between the British and local sheikhs. Therefore, this article aims to systematize the occurrence of piracy in this region in the years 1873–1949. Over 80 studies by British colonial institutions were used for the analysis, so the topic is presented in its entirety from the perspective of the Crown. First, time intervals of several years with increased pirate activity were identified, and then on this basis two longer periods with a different scale and dynamics of piracy were designated: the period of widespread piracy (1873–1912) and the period of marginalized piracy (1913–1949). In the first period, piracy was a frequent phenomenon, especially in the territory of the Ottoman Empire: in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula and in the south of today’s Iraq. The reasons for this situation included high political instability of the region. During the second period, piracy dropped in scale and scope. Order in the region was introduced by the expansion of the Saudi State and the creation of independent states after the First World War, among other factors.