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Osprey Essential Histories #66
The Wars of the Barbary Pirates: To the Shores of Tripoli - The Rise of the US Navy and Marines
The wars against the Barbary pirates not only signaled the determination of the United States to throw off its tributary status, liberate its citizens from slavery in North Africa, and reassert its right to trade freely upon the seas: they enabled America to regain its sense of national dignity.
The wars also served as a catalyst for the development of a navy with which America could project its newly acquired power thousands of miles away. By the time the fighting was over the young republic bore the unmistakable marks of a nation destined to play a major role in international affairs.
The Osprey Guide To... series is a reworking of the popular Essential Histories series, now available as non-illustrated eBooks at a fantastic low price.
The maps and text remain the same, giving a strong historical overview of some of the most important conflicts and theatres of war from the ancient world through to modern times.
The wars also served as a catalyst for the development of a navy with which America could project its newly acquired power thousands of miles away. By the time the fighting was over the young republic bore the unmistakable marks of a nation destined to play a major role in international affairs.
The Osprey Guide To... series is a reworking of the popular Essential Histories series, now available as non-illustrated eBooks at a fantastic low price.
The maps and text remain the same, giving a strong historical overview of some of the most important conflicts and theatres of war from the ancient world through to modern times.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 19, 2019
Concise and Informative
Why use the name ‘Barbary Pirates’ in the title of this book when the author explains that the Ottoman military states of North Africa were not pirates but privateers, also called corsairs, sanctioned and given letters of marque by their rulers? Other than this criticism, I can see no reason not to recommend this little volume to anyone with an interest in the early encounters of the United States with the corsairs who held the keys to the Mediterranean trade so coveted by Yankee traders. In recent years, a good deal of literature on the subject has been published in English, making it possible for the reader or student to gain a fair understanding of this interesting region and its place in early modern history. Fremont-Barnes has produced an even-handed and informed study that might serve as an excellent introduction to the subject.
Why use the name ‘Barbary Pirates’ in the title of this book when the author explains that the Ottoman military states of North Africa were not pirates but privateers, also called corsairs, sanctioned and given letters of marque by their rulers? Other than this criticism, I can see no reason not to recommend this little volume to anyone with an interest in the early encounters of the United States with the corsairs who held the keys to the Mediterranean trade so coveted by Yankee traders. In recent years, a good deal of literature on the subject has been published in English, making it possible for the reader or student to gain a fair understanding of this interesting region and its place in early modern history. Fremont-Barnes has produced an even-handed and informed study that might serve as an excellent introduction to the subject.
March 29, 2021
Though the book is only 90 pages long the author seemed to have difficulty finding sufficient subject matter to fill it out. Like all Osprey books it is lavishly illustrated and well-done. However chapters include the Lewis and Clark expedition, and, though ostensibly about the US-Barbary Wars, a relatively long section on Exmouth's British campaigns in 1816 and a shorter chapter on the French campaign of 1830.
It is well-done. A goo introduction to the period, but a little light on the actual topic.
It is well-done. A goo introduction to the period, but a little light on the actual topic.
June 14, 2025
Usually, these books have the issue of struggling to fit the topic within 90 illustrated pages. A full section on the unrelated Lewis and Clark expedition is provided, demonstrating here a perceived need to do the opposite. This is odd, as while the history of the wars overall from an American perspective is good, there are elements- such as the brief collaborations with Swedish and Kingdom of Naples forces, or the 83/84 bombardments by non-American coalitions- which certainly could have been expanded.
Still, whats provided is a good concise history.
Still, whats provided is a good concise history.
February 6, 2017
A conflict I knew nothing about before reading this book, this details America's difficulties with protecting it merchant shipping in the Mediterranean Sea against the Pirates of North Africa.
With the paying of tributes they managed to free the white slaves taken, but eventually had to resort to force to make their merchants free from attack, the in the same manner as the British and the French were.
An interesting read into the challenges being faced by the new country, and a superb summary at the end detailing the differences and similiarities in the white slaves in North Africa (eg 3,000 in Algiers) and the black slaves in America (700,000).
With the paying of tributes they managed to free the white slaves taken, but eventually had to resort to force to make their merchants free from attack, the in the same manner as the British and the French were.
An interesting read into the challenges being faced by the new country, and a superb summary at the end detailing the differences and similiarities in the white slaves in North Africa (eg 3,000 in Algiers) and the black slaves in America (700,000).
August 21, 2011
Good historiacal write up of the war against the Barbary pirates and the beginning of the Marine Corps role as a projection of force overseas.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews