A Mark in History: The Most Influential Crime Syndicates

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In David W. Stewart’s epic Angels of Mortality, the continuation of the world and human society is at stake–but inside this all-encompassing conflict for humanity’s survival, there’s also a battle against criminal syndicates. And that’s because, regardless of how big or small, crime syndicates have always had a knack for making a mark in history–so the book is just being realistic!

Making a Mark in History!

Clandestine organizations have existed and operated in the shadows ever since man first learned how to group themselves.

Driven by a complex mix of profit, power, and often a twisted sense of loyalty, these crime syndicates have shaped political landscapes, influenced economies, and, at times, even dictated the course of everyday life for millions.

The influence of these hidden societies extends beyond mere criminal acts. And often, they intertwine with legitimate businesses and government institutions. The impact of organized crime is vaster than one might imagine.

Today, we’ll be exploring three of the most influential crime syndicates to ever make a mark in history.

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The Sicilian Mafia and The Code of Silence

Perhaps the most famous criminal group out there, the Sicilian Mafia, had its origins in the 19th century in the, you guessed it, island of Sicily. Amongst themselves, they called the group Cosa Nostra (which means “our thing” in Italian) because each member of the group was imagined to have a stake in the organization.

At a time when Italy was experiencing widespread poverty due to a weak central government, Cosa Nostra emerged–with a strong cultural emphasis on family and honor–initially as a response to the oppression caused by the landed elite, who routinely mistreated their tenants, and as a substitute to the absence of broader state authority.

Eventually, Cosa Nostra transformed into a highly structured criminal enterprise that was fueled in part by the mass emigration of southern Italians to the United States, where they quickly grew their influence on the global stage.

What made Cosa Nostra so effective was the code of Omertà, a strict vow of silence and non-cooperation with authorities. This strict code of conduct allowed them to be efficient in both internal and external movements, helping them avoid state attempts to break them.

The Yakuza and Japan’s Elaborate Underworld

Elaborately tattooed and strictly hierarchical, the Yakuza stands out amongst the world’s crime syndicates. Just to clean up the air, the Yakuza do not refer to a single criminal organization–but to an umbrella of similar and adjacent criminal groups that are scattered all over Japan. Tracing their origins is difficult, but it is widely accepted that they came from gamblers and itinerant peddlers who saw a need to organize themselves against the more powerful arm of the state.

Unlike most Western crime syndicates, the Yakuza have a visible public presence, often legitimate, and are deeply involved in politics. The influence that the Yakuza have has deeply waned in recent years, but what remains is still deeply embedded within Japan’s economic and political spheres.

Like the Cosa Nostra, they also have a strict code that they follow that emphasizes duty, loyalty, and self-sacrifice, which often manifests in brutal violence and ruthless business practices.

The Triads and Chinese Global Reach

Similarly to the Yakuza, the Triads are not one single criminal organization but a collective term for numerous Chinese criminal syndicates. Having their beginnings in the secret societies of 17th-century China, the Triads were originally anti-imperialist. However, as time passed, their noble sentiments gradually devolved into criminal ventures like extortion and smuggling.

Due to large-scale emigration from China, their influence spread globally, establishing strongholds in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Chinatowns across North America, Europe, and Australia. This widespread reach has made the Triads extremely well-connected and adaptable. They have often exploited loopholes in international law and leveraged their connections to facilitate illicit trade across continents.

Despite many efforts by law enforcement agencies worldwide, the nature of the Triads has made them incredibly difficult to dismantle.

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The impact of these crime syndicates is undeniable. They have woven a complex lattice of power, violence, and influence, leaving an enduring mark on history that so inspires the criminal organizations that serve as a major antagonist in David W. Stewart’s Angel of Mortality–which you can grab a copy of now on this very website.