Where there pirates during medieval times?

Answer 1

Not only is there a long history of pirates, going back almost 3,000 years, but there are still pirates operating in some areas of the world today. There are numerous sites dealing with the history of pirates. Here is just one: http://www.piratesinfo.com/history/history.php

Answer 2

Piracy has always existed somewhere in the world. In the Mediterranean, the Vandals operated a pirate fleet from Carthage until they were wiped out by the Eastern Romans, but piracy is motivated by economics, and it began again in other places. There were certainly other pirates in the Middle Ages, but they would have needed well traveled sea routes to prey upon.

Answer 3

There have been pirates almost as long as there have been sailors.

However the classic 'Captain Jack' type pirate is associated with thefts from Spanish Merchants in the 16th and 17th centuries- which is after the medieval period.