Piracy in territorial waters of Yemen and measures by the Ottoman empire (1869-1914)

Abstract

Industrialisation and as a result increasing need for raw material attracted so-called western countries to wealthy regions in the Levant. It became an obvious target for European states and merchants to reach this wealth of the Orient. This rising need led to colonisation, which was through the sea rather than the territory thought as a short-cut and economic way. With the opening of the Suez Canal in the 19th century, the Arab peninsula attached to the Mediterranean Sea through territory, is also connected to the sea by means of this opening. The road Mediterranean and Red Sea though it lost its importance at one time, regained its animation as of 19th century with the efforts of France and England. In this sense, Yemen constitutes a central crossroad that was important on maritime merchant route directly to India. Piracy in the sea specifically in this crossroad both in the Mediterranean Sea and on the southern coast of its frontiers were effective in policies followed by the Ottoman Empire. In the present study, from the late 19th century to early 20th century, piracy or maritime thuggery taking place in the sea off Yemen, a former town of the Ottoman Empire, are to be examined based on the archival documents.