History of the Caribbean Pirates

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“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 and piracy have existed since the dawn of sailing. For example, ancient Greek ships were plagued by the Mamertines of Sicily, while late medieval European vessels faced the scourge of the Barbary pirates of North Africa. However, propelled by our popular culture, the very term ‘pirates’ brings forth reveries (to many of us) of the rambunctious 17th-18th-century Caribbean sailors and seamen who seemingly led their lives guided by the ‘pillars’ of adventure and freedom. But as is often the case in history, there was more to these pirates than what their boisterously spirited personas suggest. So without further ado, let us take a gander at ten things you should know about the 17th-18th-century Caribbean Pirates.

Beyond the ‘Glamor’ of Swashbuckling - Instead of a life of romantic glamor, with crews led by aristocratic swashbuckling heroes, the average pirate was a doomed man, lacking the education, abilities, and pragmatism to escape his inevitable fate. A pirate’s life was usually nasty, brutish, and short.

Privateers, Buccaneers, and Pirates - Pirate as a term is often generalized to mean any renegade or non-national entities operating on the high seas. Consequently, other terms like privateers, buccaneers, and even freebooters are used as synonymous elements for this broad categorization. However, when it comes to the history of pirates, privateers were actually somewhat different in their origins and scope of operation. To that end, a privateer entailed an individual who was under contract (known as the Letter of Marque) with a government, which allowed him to attack and plunder enemy vessels during times of conflict.

The ‘Golden Age’ of Piracy - Historically, the Golden Age of Piracy (when piracy reached its proverbial peak) is perceived as a relatively short period starting from the 1650s until around 1730. This era, spanning only decades, was kickstarted by the Anglo-French buccaneers who made their forays into Spanish colonies and ships. In the very late 17th century, piracy was (possibly) rampant in the sea-based trade routes across both the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. And finally, the last hurrah of pirates in the 1720s was brought forth by mostly ex-privateers of the Caribbean islands who were left unemployed by the conclusion of the War of the Spanish Succession.

What Drove Sailors to Piracy? - In the earlier entry, we talked about the origins of the Caribbean pirates who operated during the early 18th century. But given the short and brutal lifespan of an ordinary pirate, the question can be raised – why did many such men flock under the banners of figures like Blackbeard and Kidd? Well for one, as we already mentioned, piracy tended to thrive when there was a dearth of employment opportunities for the seamen. However, we shouldn’t view the desperation of these sailors through the lens of modern-day sensibility.’ (Source)

Let’s continue - Pirates worked hard on the ships

Start at the beginning – Kimmy meets some pirates