ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the development of North African piracy in the pre-colonial period from a different perspective. The land was imagined as given over to ruin by those who lived there and those who had aided and abetted Mediterranean piracy for the previous centuries. The correspondence between the two men provides insight into the birth of archaeological study and antiquarian interest at Carthage. The role Tunis played in the epic wars in the 16th century reflect growing connectivity in the early modern world and is paralleled by a growing awareness of the historical heritage of North Africa. The ancient civilisations of North Africa were reborn in the popular imagination and the reputation of the ancient city of Carthage, especially, spread far and wide. The pirates and their legacy have had a profound impact on the understanding of the ancient cultures of North Africa.
