![]() Pirates and smugglers may have differed primarily in the methods used to obtain their trade goods, but often used the same networks in disposing of their contraband. "Whenever food prices increased", said one of the Qing literati, "so too did piracy' (p. "Tens of thousands of poor, marginalized fishermen and sailors became involved both directly and indirectly in piracy, especially during periods of instability and economic decline'' (p. In the introductory chapter, Robert Antony contends that both pirates and smugglers were motivated primarily by economic gain. Nevertheless, the authors manage to piece together detailed case studies to document an elusive but pervasive phenomenon. This is a challenging research agenda, as pirates and smugglers left few records and often used extreme measures to ensure their anonymity. ![]() This book attempts to examine the dynamics of piracy, smuggling and maritime security around the China seas over the past six centuries. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2010. Elusive Pirates, Pervasive Smugglers: Violence and Clandestine Trade in the Greater China Seas, edited by Robert J. ![]()
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