THE PIRATES OF THE CARABBEAN SEA

No other era has determined our concept of piracy as much as the Golden Age of the Caribbean buccaneers and filibusters in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Entire pirate fleets roamed the Atlantic trade routes on the lookout for both the great Spanish treasure galleons ad the small merchantmen travelling between the islands and the continent. Even strongly fortified cities were not safe from attack. During a time when the European colonial powers had not yet established a firm hold on their possessions in the New World, well-organized violent communities of privateers played a significant part in local military conflicts but remained difficult to control in times of peace.

This volume seeks to provide an overview of the development of piracy in the Caribbean Sea between 1600 and 1725 and describes the diverse composition of many pirate bands and crews. Using contemporary sources and archaeological finds, this book describes the pirates weapons, clothes, and ships. Wreck finds such as the Queen Annes Revenge, the notorious Blackbeards sunken flagship, have broadened our knowledge about how the pirate crews lived and fought. Based on this knowledge and supplemented by contemporary illustrations and modern reconstructions, this work provides a valuable source of information on the famous Golden Age of piracy.

Contents

Chronology

Introduction

A golden age on silver trade routes

A band of brothers? Universal equality?

The Pirate Code

Female pirates

A return to a quiet life?

Pirate strongholds

Dress

Weapons

Small arms

Bladed weapons

Ordnance 

Pirate Ships

Three-masters

Sloops, brigs and brigantines

Flags and symbols

High seas tactics

The treatment of captured ships

Amphibious operations 

Conclusion

Sources

Bibliography