The Barbary Pirates were a group of privateers and pirates based in North Africa, particularly along the coasts of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Active from the 16th to the 19th centuries, they targeted European and American merchant ships, capturing vessels and enslaving crew members. Their activities were often sanctioned by local governments, which received a share of the profits. These pirates operated from fortified ports like Tripoli and Salé, using fast ships to outmaneuver their targets. The Barbary Wars in the early 19th century were a series of conflicts between the United States and the Barbary States, aimed at ending piracy and securing safe passage for American ships.