Pirates

The commonly held vision of pirates is a fearless swashbuckler with an eyepatch, leaping fearlessly around his ship, defeating foes, & burying captured treasure. This book explores the real world as it has existed for the last 5,000 years, from the ancient civilizations of Sumeria through the Roman Empire, the spread of Islam, & the discovery of the New World. Describes the lives of buccaneers, marauders who terrorized the Spanish colonizers of the New World & ushered in the golden age of piracy. Explains what pirates' lives were really like, describing pirate laws, customs, & battle tactics. It also presents some of the most successful, ruthless, & scandal-ridden pirates of all time, such as William Kidd & Blackbeard. Color illustrations.