PIRATES History and Myth

Real Pirate History Pirates existed in 1200 BC – Greek Empire Pirates came from all over - Europe, Africa, Asia, and (later in time) the Americas Pirates had many names: Seafaring Thieves, Corsairs, Privateers, Buccaneers, Wokou, etc. Pirates would steal anything (not just gold) Pirates were criminals and most of them died young either in battle or from horrible diseases 17th and 18th centuries were the “Golden Age”

How do Pirates fit in with the Colonial Period? Golden Age 1690-1725 More sea travel with colonies Trading- ships with more valuable cargo to plunder Pirates use Caribbean as a place of refuge Europe sent sea robbers to plunder ships of colonial rivals When colonial policies change buccaneers don’t have an income and become illegal pirates America paid tributes to pirates Blackbeard raided along the coast of the southern colonies Pirates and rumors of pirates haunted the southern coast In March 1719 13 pirates were hung in Williamsburg

Pirate Maps

More Than Just a Flag There are dozens of different pirate flags Each different flag has a special meaning Pirates sometimes didn’t use their flags or used other nations’ flags to deceive their prey Flags could serve as a warning or as an invitation

Pirate Flags

Pirate Ships

Life at Sea

Water Wars Most pirates were so intimidating that the merchant ships wouldn’t put up a fight In the East (Asia) Pirates had whole fleets of ships that fought against each other In the West (Europe) Pirates would pick off their prey one by one Pirates had their own rules of engagement, but would break them frequently

Pirate Ships in Battle

Superstitious Pirates Sailors in general are usually superstitious, pirates are even worse (paranoia?) Believed in ghosts and spirits Would keep items they thought to be lucky Everything had a meaning: bells, colors of the sunset & sunrise Women on board a ship was thought to be bad luck (but not always)

Women on Board a Ship

Some Real Famous Pirates Eustance the Monk – 1170-1217 “Blackbeard” (Edward Teach) – 1680-1718 “Calico” Jack (Rackham) – ? – 1720 Mary Read – 1690-1726 Anne Boony – 1697-? John Paul Jones – 1747-1792 Rock Braziliano – 1635-1671 Sir Francis Drake – 16th century Francis L’Ollonais – 1635-1668 Alvida - 6th century Madame Ching – 1785-1844 Barbarossa Brothers – 16th century Zheng Zhilong – 1604-1661

Pirate Timeline

Pirate Myths Literature Captain Sharkley Peter Pan Treasure Island Movies Swiss Family Robinson Pirates of Penzance The Princess Bride Hook Treasure Planet Pirates of the Caribbean

Captain Hook

Pirate Lingo Ahoy! - "Hello!" Avast! - Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!" Aye! - "Why yes, I agree most heartily with everything you just said or did." Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over." Arrr! - This one is often confused with arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a belaying pin. "Arrr!" can mean, variously, "yes," "I agree," "I'm happy," "My team is going to win it all," "I saw that television show, it sucked!" and "That was a clever remark you or I just made." And those are just a few of the myriad possibilities of Arrr!

Pirate: Good or Bad?

Modern Day Pirates

You be the Pirate Choose a pirate name Design a pirate flag Create a short background story Be ready to share your own pirate history Share which colonial city you would raid and why