Shipwrecked!
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The Golden Age of Piracy
• Though pirates have existed since ancient times, the
Golden Age of piracy was in the 17th and early 18th
centuries. During this time more than 5000 pirates
were said to be at sea.
• Throughout history there have been people willing to
rob others transporting goods on the water. These
people, known as pirates, mainly targeted ships,
though some also launched attacks on coastal towns.
The Golden Age of Piracy
• Many of the most famous pirates had a terrifying
reputation, and they advertised this by flying gruesome
flags, including the 'Jolly Roger' with its picture of skull
and crossbones. Captives were famously made to
‘walk the plank’ – though this doesn’t appear to have
been as common in reality as in fiction; in fact, it's likely
that most victims of piracy were just thrown overboard.
• Many of the most famous pirates had a terrifying
reputation, and they advertised this by flying gruesome
flags, including the 'Jolly Roger' with its picture of skull
and crossbones. Captives were famously made to
‘walk the plank’ – though this doesn’t appear to have
been as common in reality as in fiction; in fact, it's likely
that most victims of piracy were just thrown overboard.
The Golden Age of Piracy
• Pirates have existed since ancient times – they
threatened the trading routes of ancient Greece, and
seized cargoes of grain and olive oil from Roman
ships. The most far-reaching pirates in early medieval
Europe were the Vikings.
• Thousands of pirates were active between 1650 and
1720, and these years are sometimes known as the
'Golden Age’ of piracy. Famous pirates from this period
include Henry Morgan, William 'Captain' Kidd, 'Calico'
Jack Rackham, Bartholomew Roberts and the
fearsome Blackbeard (Edward Teach).
• Though this Golden Age came to an end in the
18th century, piracy still exists today in some parts of
the world, especially the South China Seas.
Pirates of the Caribbean
• The explorer Christopher Columbus established
contact between Europe and the lands that were later
named America at the end of the 15th century. As he
was working for the Spanish monarchy, these 'new
lands' were claimed by the Spanish, who soon
discovered them to be a rich source of silver, gold and
gems.
• From the 16th century, large Spanish ships, called
galleons, began to sail back to Europe, loaded with
precious cargoes that pirates found impossible to
resist. So many pirate attacks were made that galleons
were forced to sail together in fleets with armed
vessels for protection. As Spanish settlers set up new
towns on Caribbean islands and the American
mainland, these too came under pirate attack.
Why did pirates become pirates?
• In England there was social disruption. Smaller farmers
were forced off the land by ruthless landowners and
smaller tradesmen were challenged by larger
businesses. These displaced people flocked to urban
areas looking for work or poor relief.
• In London especially there was overcrowding and
unemployment and funds for the poor could not meet
the need. People had to shift for themselves.
Distressed people weren't simply worse off, they had
no hope of making a better life. Piracy tempted poor
seamen because it offered them the chance to take
more control of their lives.
Why did pirates become pirates?
• In England there was social disruption. Smaller farmers
were forced off the land by ruthless landowners and
smaller tradesmen were challenged by larger
businesses. These displaced people flocked to urban
areas looking for work or poor relief.
• In London especially there was overcrowding and
unemployment and funds for the poor could not meet
the need. People had to shift for themselves.
Distressed people weren't simply worse off, they had
no hope of making a better life. Piracy tempted poor
seamen because it offered them the chance to take
more control of their lives.
What is a pirate?
• A pirate is a robber who travels by water. Though most
pirates targeted ships, some also launched attacks on
coastal towns.
• We often think of pirates as swashbuckling and daring
or evil and brutish, but in actual fact most of them were
ordinary people who had been forced to turn to criminal
activity to make ends meet.
• When on the high seas, any one who wasn't a captain
would sleep out in the open, either in a hammock or on
the floor. There were however, 'pirate havens'. Regions
of the Indian Ocean and Madagascar were often safe
places for pirates to stay, outside of the law.
Why did pirates become pirates?
• Young men who longed to escape could get a job on a
sailing ship before they were fully grown: agility was
needed as much as brute strength.
• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkWQvzrv6gI&ab_channel
=TheMagicHannes
• What other pirates can you name apart from Captain
Jack Sparrow?
TASK
