Pirates. This word was pronounced at different times with different feelings: with delight, favorably, with horror... The living conditions of society changed - the attitude towards piracy, one of the most ancient crafts of man, changed. Often pirates found support from the state, which during the wars resorted to their help, legalizing the position of sea robbers and turning pirates into privateers, that is, officially allowing them to conduct military operations against the enemy, leaving themselves part of the booty. Who were the pirate ranks made of? They were not uniform in composition. Different reasons encouraged people to unite in a criminal community. There were also adventurers; and avengers placed "outside the law"; travelers and explorers who made significant contributions to the study of the Earth in the era of great geographical discoveries; bandits who declared war on all living things; and businessmen who considered robbery to be ordinary work, which, if there was a certain risk, gave a solid income.