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The rise and fall of French Empires throughout a period of 400 years are outlined. Two central and parallel concepts in French political discourse, "grandeur" and "decadence", are used to analyze the French Empire. The article starts by commenting on the rise of the empire, including its geographical reach and direct and indirect political structures and systems. The French imperial policy of assimilation of colonies is examined as a political function to legitimize imperialism as a "mission civilisatrice"; to bring French civilization and liberty to the colonies. The article argues that French imperial rhetoric and propaganda to colonial populations were influenced by social Darwinism, racism, and military interests to display superiority of the French Empire. The article comments on the use of instruction and education in colonial administration and colonial history to maintain and develop the Empire once established. The article discusses the fall and decolonization of the French Empire, and concludes with lessons learned from the empire that applies to modern day France, including French exceptionalism. This article is one in a series of articles on the topic of empires. References. E. Sundby

Piracy has a long history and often arises from legitimization problems, which may cause problems in distinguishing pirates from non-pirates. Piracy can essentially be divided into three epochs: classical piracy, colonial piracy and modern piracy. Classical piracy lasted from 1492 to 1730 and was filling a proto-legal space when Protestants pirates defined the pope's authority, colonial piracy took place in the 18th and 19th century Mediterranean Sea, also backed by religious motives, and modern piracy is a phenomenon of the 21st century where the pirates utilize instable regions for their benefit. Legal, normative and conceptual definitions can be used to differentiate between pirates and non-pirates. L. Pitkaniemi