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The Life of a Pirate
“So what’s the life of a pirate all about?” asks Tiffi. “I can tell you what our life is all about,” says the female pirate. “My name is Mighty Mary and I’ve been with this crew for a while. “ ‘Did you ever dream about being a pirate? Perhaps you were carried away with the tales of Blackbeard, Captain Hook, and the like.…
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You might be wondering, how did one become a pirate?
‘Often pirates started out as young sailors who quickly learned that stealing was the easiest and quickest way to make a living. It is speculated that both Blackbeard and Calico Jack began as sailors before crossing that boundary into pirate-hood. In other accounts, pirates were made. What I mean by this is that some…
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The girls learn more about pirates
“So what did pirates do?” asks Kimmy. “I can tell you about that,” says Toothless Pete. ‘Pirates main means of living was to steal from others. Treasure like gold and jewels, yes, but most of the time pirates would steal things to aid in their survival. Food, drink, and supplies for sailing would make their way off of one…
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History of the Caribbean Pirates
“Being a pirate is not an easy job,” says Toothless Pete. “But it’s sure nice to be out in the ocean. I can tell you about the Caribbean Pirates if you’re interested in more history.” Of course Tiffi is always interested in learning more! Kimmy just rolls her eyes. She can never keep up with her sister’s energy. ‘Pirates…
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Pirates worked hard on the ships
‘To that end, a seaman’s life was dreadful even by the contemporary standards – with grueling hard work aboard ships accompanied by uncomfortable quarters, damp surroundings, and more-often-than-not stale food. The dismal nature of their work situation was rather exacerbated by the exposure to various diseases ranging from…
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No treasure chests filled with gold
‘Boarding Actions and Cutlasses - Through the shroud of smoke and mayhem of carnage, the pirates boarded the enemy ship as a tactical ploy as opposed to bouts of daredevilry. Most boarding actions were formulated by pirates so as not damage the cargo, while at the same utilizing their numerical superiority (if available)…
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Do pirates still exist?
“So if you are pirates, are you considered the same kind of pirates as back then?” asks Tiffi. Barnacle Bill smiles as he shares modern pirates with Tiffi. ‘Most people conjure up the image of a man with an eye patch and a peg leg with a parrot when they think of pirates, assuming a person illegally downloading software…
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Unsettling Facts About Modern Pirates
‘Modern-day pirates no longer fly jolly rogers or force their victims to walk the plank, but they are no less dangerous. Modern pirates are a real threat to sea vessels operating all over the world and can even result in the death of victims at sea. And although they no longer fly jolly rogers or force their victims to…
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Where and Why Do Modern Pirate Attacks Happen?
‘According to Brandon Prins a professor of international relations at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, the major hotspots for piracy in Africa are the Gulf of Guinea and the Gulf of Aden. In Southeast Asia, those hotspots are the Sulu and Celebes seas as well as the Malacca Strait and Bangladesh. Notable, however, is…
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Global sea piracy ticks upward, and the coronavirus may make it worse
‘Modern sea piracy often involves pirates in small fast boats approaching and boarding larger, slower-moving ships to rob them of cargo – such as car parts, oil, crew valuables, communication equipment – or to seize the ship and crew for ransom. Beginning in 2008, the greater Gulf of Aden area off the coast of East Africa…
