Pirates were bad, Grow up!

Do as you were told and you would be left alone. This is the freedom the Jolly Roger stood for. But do we really want to look piracy in the face?

I very rarely tell people to do this, and just for the record I’m a fan of Disney, at least the parks and animation. And on the whole blockbusters, phoney accents and silly outfits are allot of fun. But I try to never lose sight of what piracy actually represents. So I’m really writing this post about the concepts we chose to be repulsed by, rather than what got changed in a theme park ride.
Continue reading “Pirates were bad, Grow up!”

Causes of the Golden Age of Piracy in 5 Steps.

300 years ago the Golden Age of Piracy began in the Caribbean. Many fateful occurrences came together to provide the right environment for it to occur, a war ended, heightening the grievences of many out of work privateers and making them think back to the great pirates of bygone times. Nations began to rebuild their economies, sending treasure convoys across the sea and cracking down on illegal practices and industries that had flourished during the war. And on the 30th of July 300 years ago, a hurricane smashed onto the Florida coast at precisely the wrong time.  Continue reading “Causes of the Golden Age of Piracy in 5 Steps.”

Kings Pirate: Henry Morgan’s Attack on Panama part 1

Recommended as Further Reading in Sir Henry Morgan by Don Nardo. 

Come on lets face it. We’re all suckers for a good Swashbuckler, corny or not, accurate or completely bonkers there is a huge soft spot for the daring do of the past. Give us a couple of big ships with allot of cannons, give us a jolly roger and a yo ho ho, give us cutlasses, rapiers and baggy shirts and you’re set for a good time.

I’m no different, as I have found that the real life adventures of these people were no less exciting or colourful. Indeed though in some parts those old fashioned pirate movies that people laugh at all the time, are sometimes closer to the truth than they are given credit for, I have never seen the reality to be a let down. So mateys, sign aboard my good ship and lets set sail with the greatest Buccaneer ever to lift a bottle of rum (a thing he did so frequently there’s even a brand named after him), a man who would have sent all the varying Hollywood pirates scurrying for their mamma’s – the notorious Welsh admiral of the brethren of the coast, Sir Henry Morgan. Following him to the fabled city of Panama in what was to prove the last of the Great Buccaneer raids, and what would prove one of the inspirations for the Golden Age of Piracy, Arrrrrr (Or whatever). Continue reading “Kings Pirate: Henry Morgan’s Attack on Panama part 1”