The seas and channels of China and Southeast Asia were ideal for pirates. Small boats easily hid in the mangrove swamps along the coasts. Piracy was well established by 400 A.D. China and Japan often had to work together to stop the pirates.
 
The pirates became worse after European empires grew in the 16th and 17th [...]

The “hempen jig” was the dance of death at the end of the hangman’s hemp rope. This was the fate that awaited pirates who were caught and convicted. For most pirates, though, life at sea was far riskier than hanging. Few pirates were actually brought to justice and often those found guilty were pardoned. Privateers [...]

Like most of eighteenth century life, piracy was run by men. But there were some female pirates. Women were often banned from pirate ships, so women who wanted to be pirates disguised themselves by dressing, fighting, drinking and swearing like men.
 
One of the first female pirate captains was Alvilda from Sweden. She lived in a [...]

Some pirate crews had a code of conduct. All pirates on board would have to obey it. This is an example of pirate law from Charles Johnson’s 18th century book on pirates.
 

Every man has a vote in affairs of the moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors.
No person to game at [...]

Blackbeard was a famous pirate of the eighteenth century. Born in England, he was said to have had 14 wives, and many names, including: Drummond, Thatch, Tash, and (officially) Edward Teach.
 
Infamous for his brutality, he encouraged his evil reputation in order to make his victims fear him.
 
Whenever he went into battle, Blackbeard stuck smouldering fuses [...]

Early sailors had limited navigation skills. Pirates mainly found other ships by waiting on known trade routes.
 
To know where they are, sailors use latitude (north and south distance), and longitude (east and west). They could estimate their latitude from the position of the sun in the sky, but longitude was more difficult.
 
The magnetised needle of [...]

Pirates used many weapons to defeat the crews of ships they boarded. For hand-to-hand combat, pirates used the cutthroat cutlass. Its short, broad blade was easier to use on a ship than a sword. Daggers were also small and easily concealed in clothing.
 
Pirates also used three kinds of guns. First was the musketoon. It was [...]

Francis L’Ollonais: The cruellest of the cruel pirates. The French buccaneer tortured his captives and cut them into little pieces.
 
Rock Braziliano: He was named after his long exile in Brazil. He was called “brutish” and “foolish”, and a drunkard. He once spit-roasted two Spanish farmers alive because they would not give him their pigs.
 
Batholomew Portugues: [...]

Famous in pirate legend, The Spanish Main was the Spanish Empire’s territory in the “New World” of North and South America.
 
Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, The New World contained vast amounts of treasure belonging to the Aztec and Inca empires in what is now Mexico and Peru.
 
Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, large amounts [...]

In 1603 James I withdrew permission for privateers to raid enemy ships.
 
Piracy in the Caribbean was instead carried out by buccaneers from the island of Hispaniola. The buccaneers originally made a living from trading meat, fat and hides from pigs and cattle to passing ships. They had a wild reputation, and dressed in uncured animal [...]