Final answer:
The Barbary Pirates controlled shipping routes in the Mediterranean Sea, particularly along the Barbary Coast in North Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Barbary Pirates controlled shipping routes in the Mediterranean Sea. This area was once a haven for pirates, particularly along the North African coastline known as the Barbary Coast, which included parts of modern-day Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.
During the early 1800s, various European nations, as well as the United States, were involved in conflicts with the pirates in an effort to protect their merchant shipping. The presence of the pirates in the Mediterranean posed a constant threat to trade and navigation during this time.