Piracy was a big problem in the 1500s and it still is today. Every day, ships and vessels are hijacked on the coast of Somalia and other African countries. The Captain Phillips film directed by Paul Greengrass gave an in-depth look at what's going on in these parts and shows how pirates have evolved over the years. Although there are many popular myths and legends in the world of piracy, there is a real factual history of this naval culture. By looking at their history, tactics, famous people, and evolution into the modern era, we can better understand the real world of pirates. Captain Phillips is a film based on the 2009 hijacking of Captain Phillip's ship, the Maersk Alabama, off the coast of Somalia. The film begins by showing the pirates' first unsuccessful attempt to try to board the ship, but to no avail. The second attempt was successful, however, reaching the ship and taking Phillips and three other crew members hostage. With the four armed pirates on board and the rest of the crew hidden below deck, Phillips leads the pirates in a game of cat and mouse around the ship. With one of the pirates captured by a small group of crew members, the crew agrees not to harm him as long as they leave the ship. The deal does not go as planned, however, and Captain Phillips finds himself alone on a lifeboat with the four pirates, forcing him to leave his fate in the hands of the Navy. Contrary to popular belief, pirates are not the rum-drinking hooligans they are made out to be. This is a murderous, wealth-seeking organization that will stop at nothing to secure their ransom. One might ask, “What drives pirates today to do what they do?” ", and there is a simple... middle of paper. ......s of drastic battle at that time. Instead of conventional hand-to-hand combat, this weapon allowed you to fight enemies at ranges far from the safety of your ship. Cannons also help pirates inflict damage on other people's ships. These cannonballs could sink ships in a single shot if hit in the right place on the hull. The cannonballs were capable of tearing the entire masts of ships apart and completely rendering the ship unable to move or escape. These weapons of destruction were not just designed to destroy ships, however. These cannonballs were also used to attack forts and bases from the sea, where they could only be reached by cannonball fire. This method of attack saved sailors from losing their lives fighting on the ground, when they could stay alive aboard the ship. Weapons have changed dramatically over hundreds of years of piracy..