What do you think?
Rate this book
Real History of Pirates, The
There’s an apocryphal story that Alexander the Great once captured a notorious pirate named Diomedes. The great conqueror decided to interview the doomed pirate, asking him what he thought gave him the right to seize the property of other people. The pirate responded by asking the emperor what he thought gave him the right to take property that doesn’t belong to him, including entire countries. The story goes that Alexander thought the pirate very clever, granting him freedom instead of execution.
Other than scale, what is the difference between a pirate and the vast armies of an emperor? Or between a pirate and the great navy of a queen? Were the men who famously traversed the Atlantic actually the heroic explorers we imagined them to be - or were they...pirates? During the early years of what would be known as the Age of Sail, these explorers included Sirs Francis Drake, John Hawkins, and Walter Ralegh.
In The Real History of Pirates, you’ll find yourself looking at world history from a new point of view, realizing that much of what you’ve learned before could - and possibly should - be viewed through a more appropriate post-imperialistic filter. Your course professor, Manushag N. Powell, an award-winning Professor of English at Purdue University, will expose you to new ways of thinking about global interactions from the West Indies to the Red Sea, from the North Atlantic to Indonesia. You’ll learn what causes piracy, why it still flourishes today, why some pirates even had the backing of a well-established government, and why women sometimes wielded the real power behind the scenes in an enterprise conducted almost exclusively by men.
Other than scale, what is the difference between a pirate and the vast armies of an emperor? Or between a pirate and the great navy of a queen? Were the men who famously traversed the Atlantic actually the heroic explorers we imagined them to be - or were they...pirates? During the early years of what would be known as the Age of Sail, these explorers included Sirs Francis Drake, John Hawkins, and Walter Ralegh.
In The Real History of Pirates, you’ll find yourself looking at world history from a new point of view, realizing that much of what you’ve learned before could - and possibly should - be viewed through a more appropriate post-imperialistic filter. Your course professor, Manushag N. Powell, an award-winning Professor of English at Purdue University, will expose you to new ways of thinking about global interactions from the West Indies to the Red Sea, from the North Atlantic to Indonesia. You’ll learn what causes piracy, why it still flourishes today, why some pirates even had the backing of a well-established government, and why women sometimes wielded the real power behind the scenes in an enterprise conducted almost exclusively by men.
Audiobook
Published May 21, 2021
15 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 4, 2023
Jāsaka, ka pēc autores runas stila tieši tas arī šī grāmata ir – lekcijas, bet tās labās, kurās profesors ne tikai abi orientējas savā tēmā, bet prot saistoši to pasniegt savai auditorijai. Vai es kādreiz biju domājusi noklausīties Perdū Universitātes profesores sastādītu lekciju ciklu par pirātiem? Nē. Bet noteikti nenožēloju necik, ka man to sanāca izdarīt.
Tēma ir ļoti plaša, un lai arī liels akcents tiek likts uz t.s. zelta laikmetu (1650-tie līdz 1730tie gadi Ameriku piekrastēs), tomēr autore pieskaras kā senākiem, tā moderniem pirātiem visā pasaulē. ir arī nodaļas (lekcijas) par sievietēm un popkultūru.
Kopumā ļoti daudz tiek atgādināts, ka pirāti tomēr ir brutāli noziedznieki, nevis cēli citēji, kurus dzīve piespieda reizēm rīkoties ne gluži pareizi. Ļoti daudz tiek runāts par romantizēšanas saknēm, bet tā arī līdz galam nesapratu, kad radās nošķelšanas starp reālajiem noziegumiem un bērnu iecienītiem piedzīvojumu cienītājiem, kuri varbūt pat darbojas taisnas lietas labā.
Tēma ir ļoti plaša, un lai arī liels akcents tiek likts uz t.s. zelta laikmetu (1650-tie līdz 1730tie gadi Ameriku piekrastēs), tomēr autore pieskaras kā senākiem, tā moderniem pirātiem visā pasaulē. ir arī nodaļas (lekcijas) par sievietēm un popkultūru.
Kopumā ļoti daudz tiek atgādināts, ka pirāti tomēr ir brutāli noziedznieki, nevis cēli citēji, kurus dzīve piespieda reizēm rīkoties ne gluži pareizi. Ļoti daudz tiek runāts par romantizēšanas saknēm, bet tā arī līdz galam nesapratu, kad radās nošķelšanas starp reālajiem noziegumiem un bērnu iecienītiem piedzīvojumu cienītājiem, kuri varbūt pat darbojas taisnas lietas labā.
March 16, 2023
This is a series of lectures by a historian that knows the details of the world on the sea. It is fascinating to learn that noble gentleman like Sir Francis Drake and John Rackham (Calico Jack) started out as pirates to rob the rich Spaniards on the sea for Mother England. The romantic idea of pirates on the sea were created by writers. Their truth was far more political and interesting.
June 8, 2021
This may be my favorite new Great Course in a long time. It's simply a huge amount of fun, and the presenter is a total geek on the subject. (Please bear in mind, calling someone "a total geek" is a high compliment in our household.)
Dr. Powell covers the fact and fiction, myth and mystique, past and present of pirates, privateers, buccaneers and corsairs. She sets a fast pace, but covers a huge amount of material. Sad to say, many of our ideas and stories about pirates are more myth than history, and what facts we do have, as Dr. Powell points out, is from court documents and thus really only tells us about the pirates who weren't very good at being pirates. After all, highly capable pirates tend not to get caught.
While the golden age of piracy captures the imagination, I found the discussion about modern day piracy and how nations are (or are not) dealing with it some of the most interesting parts of the course. Fish pirates? Who knew?
Should you watch this GC, do NOT turn it off after the last lecture because you think there is nothing insetting about the credits. You'll miss a wonderful reel. I tried to figure out the artists and song title, but I couldn't spot it in the very dense, small font credits, and I don't see it listed in the course book.
Dr. Powell covers the fact and fiction, myth and mystique, past and present of pirates, privateers, buccaneers and corsairs. She sets a fast pace, but covers a huge amount of material. Sad to say, many of our ideas and stories about pirates are more myth than history, and what facts we do have, as Dr. Powell points out, is from court documents and thus really only tells us about the pirates who weren't very good at being pirates. After all, highly capable pirates tend not to get caught.
While the golden age of piracy captures the imagination, I found the discussion about modern day piracy and how nations are (or are not) dealing with it some of the most interesting parts of the course. Fish pirates? Who knew?
Should you watch this GC, do NOT turn it off after the last lecture because you think there is nothing insetting about the credits. You'll miss a wonderful reel. I tried to figure out the artists and song title, but I couldn't spot it in the very dense, small font credits, and I don't see it listed in the course book.
July 14, 2021
This is a fascinating Great Courses text which explores primarily the Golden Age of Pirates in the sixteenth and seventeenth century in the Caribbean. It’s extensive, looking at myth, legend, and the reality as we currently understand it. From there it turns to eastern hemisphere pirates and shows how, like in the west, piracy depends tremendously on the political events happening on the land around it. Finally, and in some ways the most interesting, it offers a far too brief look at piracy today.
I enjoyed the book, but came away far from wholly satisfied. When a book called The Real History of Pirates has a blurb discussing Alexander the Great and his encounter with a pirate, I think it’s reasonable to expect the work to make a serious effort to discuss piracy throughout human history, not just in the last few centuries. While Powell does make the occasional reference to Vikings and historical acts of piracy, she doesn’t deal with these events in any serious way, which I think was a tremendous lost opportunity.
I also wonder why she would choose to include Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, as a “Pirate Queen”. Yes, she was a powerful ruler in Anglo-Saxon England, but that doesn’t make her a pirate. If we’re going to go down that road, almost any ruler with a fleet would qualify as a “Pirate Monarch” because Powell was quite effective in pointing out that the label “pirate” is often dependent on perspective. Victims often see their antagonists as “pirates” even if the antagonists would not use that term to describe themselves.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
I enjoyed the book, but came away far from wholly satisfied. When a book called The Real History of Pirates has a blurb discussing Alexander the Great and his encounter with a pirate, I think it’s reasonable to expect the work to make a serious effort to discuss piracy throughout human history, not just in the last few centuries. While Powell does make the occasional reference to Vikings and historical acts of piracy, she doesn’t deal with these events in any serious way, which I think was a tremendous lost opportunity.
I also wonder why she would choose to include Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, as a “Pirate Queen”. Yes, she was a powerful ruler in Anglo-Saxon England, but that doesn’t make her a pirate. If we’re going to go down that road, almost any ruler with a fleet would qualify as a “Pirate Monarch” because Powell was quite effective in pointing out that the label “pirate” is often dependent on perspective. Victims often see their antagonists as “pirates” even if the antagonists would not use that term to describe themselves.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
May 13, 2025
Enjoyed this. Not a lot I haven't heard before but if you are new to the subject this is an ideal place to start.
December 19, 2024
The Real History of Pirates by Manushag Powell falls into the same trap as After the Plague. There is no history in a narrative sense, only historical sociology, enthography, literature, anthropology, and the odd biography through the occasional prism of social history. Outside of some quick framing, we're mostly left in a nebulous historical setting where a series of topical lectures are provided, such as piracy in China, corsairs of the Maghreb, pirate explorers, their music, life on a ship, in literature, and so forth. References are made to famous figures and periods, but Powell doesn't dwell on them or give them much in the way of biographical information (with some exceptions). If you wanted to know about what started piracy, the main waves of piracy, how states and peoples wrestled with them, a deep dive into some of the key pirates, their careers, and a narrative structure to guide us from early piracy to the end of piracy, at least in the Caribbean or Atlantic, then you'll be disappointed. If you're into social history where there's very little structure and almost no overall sense of progression beyond the barest of bookends throughout the course, then you'll be well served.
June 21, 2022
Very good read with very thorough explanations and knowledge of pirates historically, theatrically, cinematically, and pop culturally. I enjoyed that the lecturer dove first into the pirates I was most interested in like Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, and Captain Henry Morgan (real monster, real pirate, hated being called a pirate, will forever be known as a pirate). The lecturer later mentioned the reasons for piracy, the people who turned to piracy, and even the Pirate Queens (women who were either amalgamated or completely ignored as historical pirates) without fluffing the story with too much unnecessary detail. The lecturer/author also ended the book with notes on modern day pirates and our current intellectual and historical understanding of pirates.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to know just-the-facts-please about pirates, and anyone who wants myths about pirates quashed or clarified once and for all.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to know just-the-facts-please about pirates, and anyone who wants myths about pirates quashed or clarified once and for all.
August 16, 2022
If you are super interested in pirates, you will probably eat up this Great Courses audiobook, it's a comprehensive and fairly detailed look at many aspects of piracy in history and showcases various pirates both from real life and stories, distinguishing facts from fiction. I'm personally not quite interested enough in pirates to be as enamoured by this book as I might've been, and I must admit that some of it went in one ear and out the other, partly due to the fact that it coincided with a busy week with most of my listening time spent out and about (easily distracted). However, I am grateful for the accompanying pdf as it really helped to be able to skim back to check what I missed. I was especially interested in the chapters about women - "She-Pirates" and "Women as Pirate Commanders" so I need to revisit those!
May 4, 2023
This book/course was interesting, with a fair amount of good content. However, it was simply too long for the material it had.
Since it was too long, there seemed to be quite a bit of repetition.
The professor also did quite a bit of stilted moralizing. In fact, she almost seemed to blame society and 'imperialism' for piratical activity, rather than the pirates themselves. She made a good point linking piracy with slavery but then went out of her way to repeatedly differentiate the enslavement of blacks by Europeans, from the enslavement of blacks, whites, and others by North African and Asian pirates. She seemed to work hard to excuse the latter, while understandably condemning the former.
Since it was too long, there seemed to be quite a bit of repetition.
The professor also did quite a bit of stilted moralizing. In fact, she almost seemed to blame society and 'imperialism' for piratical activity, rather than the pirates themselves. She made a good point linking piracy with slavery but then went out of her way to repeatedly differentiate the enslavement of blacks by Europeans, from the enslavement of blacks, whites, and others by North African and Asian pirates. She seemed to work hard to excuse the latter, while understandably condemning the former.
August 18, 2022
3.5 rounded down. Though it was full of interesting information, the order of the info presented was clunky and all over the map. It had some chronology however, and again the information presented was really great. This would be one interesting course to take if it were available as a full semester at some university. Pirates are so much more than TV has led us to believe (and often much nefarious)
October 8, 2022
What a great class. Covering all aspects of the term and life career of a pirate. Fun, informative and compelling causing you to really consider commissioning from a Govt to take over the open seas and death at the hands of such a commissioning. As I think back I’m curious about all the women who dressed as men and China’s famous woman pirate.
Well read the book and find out. I’m also reminded of the annual pirate parade down in Florida!
Well read the book and find out. I’m also reminded of the annual pirate parade down in Florida!
September 22, 2023
This was a pretty entertaining course. Video is mostly unnecessary, so easy to just listen to. This course will show you that basically everything you know about pirates is filled with lies. The one major complaint I have about the class, is that so much of the material is based off of historically questionable or fictional accounts and while the professor mentions it I don't feel as if it is perfectly easy to be able to differentiate fact from fiction unless you carefully pay attention.
February 23, 2024
The presentation is good and with excellent pace.
I think it wants to cover too much information, so the depth in some periods is not enough. I was especially interested in the attack of Veracruz by "Lorenzillo", which is probably the most terrible chapter for Mexico. And it´s not even mentioned.
On the other hand I did enjoy that it goes beyond the corsairs to mention the current events on pirating, which keeps being a source of concern in the world.
Very good lecture.
I think it wants to cover too much information, so the depth in some periods is not enough. I was especially interested in the attack of Veracruz by "Lorenzillo", which is probably the most terrible chapter for Mexico. And it´s not even mentioned.
On the other hand I did enjoy that it goes beyond the corsairs to mention the current events on pirating, which keeps being a source of concern in the world.
Very good lecture.
January 31, 2024
Transcript book, 457 pages
'What is a pirate?'...great way to delve into an interesting topic. Could've done without the typos and grammatical errors (never as bad in other transcript books).
FAV CHAPTERS: The Corsairs of the Maghreb; Life on a Pirate Ship; She-Pirates
Like the little quiz at end; would like extra pages for notes to certain people there are YouTube videos.
'What is a pirate?'...great way to delve into an interesting topic. Could've done without the typos and grammatical errors (never as bad in other transcript books).
FAV CHAPTERS: The Corsairs of the Maghreb; Life on a Pirate Ship; She-Pirates
Like the little quiz at end; would like extra pages for notes to certain people there are YouTube videos.
December 4, 2024
A series of historical facts while still fun and managing to not indulge in overly embellished tales of piracy
While it is not as in depth as other books, it covers a broad range of information from piracy in the golden age to online piracy and works as a great jumping off point to more specialized books
While it is not as in depth as other books, it covers a broad range of information from piracy in the golden age to online piracy and works as a great jumping off point to more specialized books
July 9, 2021
Looooooots of information in this one! It definitely warrants another listen just because it's long with 24 half hour chapters for me. But really very well put together. The narrator is very thoughtful in her lecture
October 18, 2021
Powell has a great voice, and the course was presented well. I was just looking for something a little different. I was looking for more of a Sherry Raiders and Rebelsesque historical timeline. So this wasnt bad, but it wasnt what I was looking for.
May 2, 2022
All around excellent - fascinating subject, lots of information, very well presented. Powell is a highly engaging speaker who had me eagerly hanging on her every word. Definitely the best course I've listened to this year.
October 20, 2022
There was a lot of information in this course on a wide range of topics. Some things went so fast I couldn’t absorb it all. So many names and incidents. Sometimes it was too much and I started tuning out but other times something sparked my interest.
Hopefully some of it stuck so I can answer Jeopardy questions correctly.
3 out of 5 Arrrghs.
Hopefully some of it stuck so I can answer Jeopardy questions correctly.
3 out of 5 Arrrghs.
November 10, 2025
This great courses was so cool to listen to! We all know the "Pirates of the Caribbean", so I was especially excited to learn about other cultures' piracy stories and the "differences" between pirating and privateering. A fun listen!
September 9, 2021
A lovely addition to my pirate binge!
December 18, 2022
This was a great course. It kept things interesting while still academic.
January 1, 2023
Loved this course! Highly enjoyable and I learned a lot.
January 16, 2024
Somewhat simplistic and quite quick
April 14, 2024
Really interesting and wide-ranging primer on the history of piracy.
December 22, 2024
Very interesting and informative.
January 21, 2025
Very comprehensive with lots of details
January 25, 2025
Excellent. An engaging lecturer who really knows her stuff. My only complaint is that I wouldn't have minded a bit more 'golden age of piracy' stories and little less of the modern piracy stuff.
February 29, 2024
Good stuff!
Unique and informative. Covers ancient legends, real history, the current situation and pop culture. Now, to sea!
Unique and informative. Covers ancient legends, real history, the current situation and pop culture. Now, to sea!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews