A spectacular and informative guide to the dangerous and adventurous life of piracy, privateering, and buccaneering, in a new paperback edition Expert sailors and ferocious fighters, pirates grew rich by hijacking cargoes or enslaving crew. Known also as corsairs, picaroons, buccaneers and freebooters, all were robbers and many were murderers. Yet their recklessness has inspired countless stories, songs and plays - today, it's hard to separate pirate fact from fiction. Intricate models bring to life the slave galleys of the Baarbary corsairs, the great Spanish treasure ships, and the sturdy merchantmen who carried cargoes from the East Indies. Discover how privateers got royal permssion to rob foreign vessels. See how pirates lived, at sea, on land. Learn about the grisly death that awaited those who were caught and tried for their crimes. Pirate is an exciting introduction to the world of sea-thieves - their origins, adventures and evil deeds. * Superb, full-colour revealing 'eyewitness' view of pirate life on the high seas
* See a pirate's cutlass and pistols; a letter of marque - the pirate's licence; a hoarde of pirate treasure; a real pirate costume; the many different kinds of Jolly Roger
* Learn how pirates attacked a Spanish treasure ship; why European kings and queens encouaged piracy; which Caribbean islands were pirate hideouts; what pirates ate at sea; why women pirates disguised themselves as men
* Discover what kinds of boats the pirates sailed in; how governments tried to stamp out piracy; why skilful navigation was so important to pirates

 

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