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pirates

Image representing pirate in suit with gun and saber sitting on barrel. Source: Fotokvadrat/Adobe Stock

What the Media Gets Right About Pirates (Video)

Within the realm of pirate lore depicted in media, there exists a delicate balance between fiction and historical accuracy. Notably, Howard Pyle's evocative paintings stand as vivid portrayals of the...
An illustration of William Captain Kidd relaxing on the deck. Source: Public Domain

Bizarre Pirate Traditions Most People Don't Know About (Video)

Pirate culture , often portrayed as a romanticized tale of swashbuckling adventure, actually harbored numerous peculiar traditions. These customs, largely overlooked in popular depictions, reveal a...
Artist's impression of Teuta, Queen of the Illyrian Ardiaei tribe, leads a pirate expedition against Rome. According to Illyrian laws, piracy was a legitimate trade, which led to war against the Roman Republic, who did not approve. Source: © The Creative Assembly / SEGA from Total War.

Piracy in the Ancient Mediterranean and the Notorious Cilicians

Piracy (in its maritime context) is thought to have existed ever since the seas were used by merchants as trade routes. The Mediterranean Sea was no exception, and piracy has been notorious in this...
An engraving from 1724 of Bartholomew Roberts (aka Black Bart Roberts), the notorious Welsh pirate (1682-1722). Source: Benjamin Cole/CC BY-SA 4.0

Bartholomew Roberts- The Pirate That Hated Literally Everyone (Video)

In the tumultuous era of 1722, the notorious pirate Bartholomew Roberts carved a path of chaos and vengeance across the high seas. His ruthless demeanor, revealed in the wake of Captain Howell Davis'...
Pirate crew members diligently swab the deck, maintaining the condition of their ship while sailing across the ocean. Source: Davivd/Adobe Stock

The Five Worst Jobs on a Pirate Ship... (Video)

Life on a pirate ship was fraught with peril, particularly for those assigned to the five most dreaded roles: topmen, forced men, swabbers, liars, and shipboard musicians. Topmen, the nimble climbers...
Records on the shelves of one of the Archives' storage areas, known as the Scaffali in Ferro, which contains 13 kilometers of shelving over two floors. Source: Vatican Apostolic Archives

The Extraordinary Tale of a Pope, a Pirate, and a Dead Bishop’s Treasure

Documents published from the Vatican archives in 2014 revealed an incredible tale of pirate attacks and corruption involving a 14th century bishop, whose lifelong accumulation of treasure was...
Portrait of medieval bearded pirate holding sword and gun.  Source: Oulaphone/Adobe Stock

The Horrifying Torture Methods Used By Pirates… (Video)

In the grim era of the 1600s, humanity bore witness to a dark chapter marked by massacres, persecution, and cruelty. The so-called Golden Age of Piracy unfolded amid this brutality, with pirates...
Port Royal underwater archaeological site.  Source: Wonderous World

Port Royal Unveiled: Sunken Secrets of a Pirate Paradise

Seventeenth century life in Port Royal, Jamaica, commonly referred to as “the wickedest city on Earth,” conjures up images of marauding pirates, treasure hunters, naval conquests, looting and the...
AI illustration of a black pirate of the Caribbean. Source: frimufilms/Adobe Stock

The Real Black Pirates of the Caribbean (Video)

Beneath the surface of pirate history lies a neglected narrative – the existence of black pirates in the Caribbean . Contrary to popular belief, many Africans on pirate ships were not voluntary...
Close-up representation of an armed pirate captain in a frock coat and a vest with a sword, dagger and a hook, smoking a pipe. Source: sharpner/Adobe Stock

Pirate Potheads? Drug Use and the Golden Age of Piracy (Video)

In the Golden Age of Piracy , pirates embraced a ritualistic affair with tobacco alongside their famed rum-filled punch bowls. Amid the dangers and monotony of 17th-century life, tobacco became a...
AI generated illustration of Port Royal's Sunken City. Source: Declan Hillman/Adobe Stock

Pirates and the Earthquake that Destroyed Port Royal (Video)

Port Royal, once a den of pirates, faced divine retribution 325 years ago. The infamous city, labeled the 'Sodom of the West,' met its demise on June 7, 1692, at 11:43 a.m., when a powerful...
A screenshot from the video showing the reality of pirates and slavery. Pirates were ruthless profiteers in the grim world of the slave trade, challenging the romanticized narrative. Source: YouTube Screen shot/Gold and Gunpowder

Pirates and Slavery: The Unromantic Reality (Video)

The portrayal of pirates in popular media often romanticizes their exploits, overshadowing the grim truth of their involvement in the slave trade . A candid examination dispels the illusions created...
Despite his limited success during the Golden Age, John Rackham, Pirate Captain is prominently remembered and has been featured in beloved games and movies like Assassin's Creed. Source: Dieter Holstein/Adobe Stock

John Rackham - History’s Worst Pirate? (Video)

The tale of John Rackham, often known as Calico Jack, paints a vivid picture of a less celebrated pirate from the Golden Age . Rackham's exploits, while not impressive by pirate standards, have left...
Pirate flag. Source: adimas / Adobe Stock.

The Pirate Code: Law and Order Beneath the Black Flag (Video)

In the world of pirates , where lawlessness is often the image that comes to mind, a surprising system of governance existed beneath the black flag . Pirates may have lacked a singular written code,...
Pirate sea battles. Source: Canvas Curator / Adobe Stock.

Pirate Sea Battle Tactics Revealed (Video)

On the turbulent seas of yesteryear, pirates mastered a strategic dance of cunning and boldness during their maritime escapades. Skillfully exploiting geographical nuances and weather patterns, these...
Pirate ship on the open sea at sunset. AI generated representative image of Queen Anne’s Revenge. Sources: Zaleman / Adobe Stock

Queen Anne's Revenge, a Legendary Pirate Ship (Video)

In 1717, Queen Anne's Revenge , once La Concorde , underwent a transformative journey from privateer to pirate flagship. Captured by Blackbeard off the coast of Africa, this vessel, initially...
Tortuga, The Cradle of Piracy. Source: Yasmina / Adobe Stock.

Tortuga: The Cradle of Piracy (Video)

In 1492, as Christopher Columbus explored the northern coast of Hispaniola, he discovered an enigmatic, mountainous island on the horizon. It was named Tortuga de Mar for its resemblance to a sea...
Pirates were enticed into a civilized life. Source: Dieter Holstein / Adobe Stock.

How Piracy and Privateers Were Finally Stamped Out (Video)

The history of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries offers valuable insights into the aftermath of violent conflicts. During these turbulent times, privateers , known as "Private Men-of-War," were...
The starboard toilet on the beakhead of the warship Vasa, displayed in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. (Peter Isotalo / CC by SA 3.0)

Toilets on a Pirate Ship and the Sorry Guy Who Cleaned Them... (Video)

Sanitation aboard a pirate ship was far from ideal. Bathing was a rarity, and clean clothes were scarce, often stolen from other ships. Hot baths were a luxury reserved for the sick, usually onshore...
Pirate surgeon kit. Source:  Kai Beercrafter / Adobe Stock.

The Gruesome Life of a Pirate Surgeon (Video)

During the Golden Age of Piracy danger was constant. Facing bullets, splinters, and diseases like scurvy, yellow fever, malaria, and smallpox, skilled surgeons were a necessity. 18th-century pirate...
Guang bing Chinese bagel. Source: Kenishirotie / Adobe Stock.

How a 500-Year-Old Chinese ‘Bagel’ Helped Win a War (Video)

Today bagels are a staple snack for many of us, but did you know that hundreds of years ago a Chinese variation helped win a war? This remarkable creation, known as the guang-bing, holds the key to...
Pirates in a tavern (smile4u/Adobe Stock)

Fine Dining With The Pirates Of The Caribbean

Caribbean cuisine was certainly founded by pirates. Images of filibusters as ragamuffins gnawing bugs in some cell, or perhaps scraping the bottom of some barrel adrift in the Caribbean, hunting for...
Pirate Henry Avery. Source: Dieter Holstein / Adobe Stock.

The Pirate King: Henry Every and His Ruthless Crew (Video)

Henry Every, also known as John Avery, was one of the most notorious pirates of the 17th century. He terrorized the seas, attacking and plundering numerous ships in the Indian Ocean and beyond,...
Pirate Port facing the sea. Source: Xilon/Adobe Stock

Pirate Havens: 8 of the Most Notorious Pirate Strongholds

Pirates have captured our imagination for centuries with their tales of adventure, daring raids, and hidden treasure. From the Caribbean to the South China Sea, pirates have prowled the high seas,...

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