القرصنة غربي المتوسط القرن 2 ه-5 ه 8-11 م

Abstract EN

Piracy in the Western part of the Mediterranean Sea through the period (2nd - 5th 8th - I lth) centuries played a crucial role upon both the Islamic and the Christian countries.

However, there is neither complete nor neutral study about this role as the contemporary historians, the European or the Moslems, have not been objective.

In other words, each side has supported the pirates' deeds of his own and condemned the deeds of the other side.

Besides, both of them have considered these deeds as a religious duty.

In addition, the modern historians have traced their ancestors.

Therefore, the role of the pirates in this region needs to be studied in a neutral and objective way.

This study traces what the contemporary and the modern historians of both sides have written and deals with their writings objectively through studying the meaning of piracy in the period in addition to focusing on the difference between the official piracy and the private one.

It also discusses their deeds, the region where the pirates came from, and the places where they settled and launched their attacks.

Moreover, a great effort has been exerted to discuss the deeds of Andalus sailors and their motives in addition to the results, i.e., whether it was a religious duty or mere attacks for obtaining money.

In short, there were raids on the Northern African and European shores.

Furthermore, both sides considered pirates' deeds as a religious duty, i.e., Jihad.

As a result, it can be said that the European piracy was the first step in the crusade wars against the Moslem world.