The History of Pirates

by Brenda Ralph Lewis

Did pirates really swear their allegiance on crossed pistols? Were they punished by being marooned on desert islands? And did pirate codes actually influence today’s merchant shipping contracts? Yes to all three. Although there was never a universal pirate code, 17th and 18th century pirates in the Caribbean and elsewhere were often required to sign up to sets of semi-formal rules, which became known as the Articles of Agreement.

Pirate articles varied from one captain to another, and sometimes even from one voyage to another, but they generally included provisions for discipline (with death or marooning the common penalty), specifications for each crewmate’s share of treasure, and compensation for the injured. Each crew member was asked to sign or make his mark on the articles, then swear an oath of allegiance on crossed pistols or a human skull or astride a cannon.

This wide-ranging book looks at the reality of pirates’ honour among thieves, from the ancient world right up to the pirates of today’s cargo ships or luxury yachts in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. The History of Pirates also examines the actions and pirate ethics of less famous pirates and their eras, such as the Japanese pirates of the 13th-16th centuries and Zheng Yi and his wife’s pirate alliance in 19th century China.

With features on particular pirates such as Blackbeard and William Kidd and how the pirate code evolved into today’s merchant shipping contracts, The History of Pirates illuminates the broader historical and geographical scope of piracy and provides a fascinating introduction to the reality of life on board a buccaneer ship.

Genres: Nonfiction, Pirates

192 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2017

About the author

Brenda Ralph Lewis is a writer with over 200 books on history and numerous magazine articles and television documentaries to her name. Her fascination with Scottish history and culture began early in her career and she has since returned to the subject at every opportunity. She regards [her] book on tartans as a labor of love.

Reviews

[Janika Puolitaival · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ajallisesti ja maantieteellisesti kattavin lukemani historiikki merirosvoista. Faaraoiden ajoista nykypäivään. Tuttuja hahmoja ja historiaa, mutta itselleni täysin uutta esimerkiksi Aasian historian merirosvot. Kirjoittaja osaa taitavasti kytkeä merirosvot aikansa historiaan. Merirosvot vaikuttivat esimerkiksi samuraiklaanien valtataisteluun sekä Kiinan ja Japanin kamppailuun vallasta. Tiivis, selkeä paketti kaikille merirosvoista vähääkään kiinnostuneille, suosittelen.