History of Pirates

We begin with the first known recording of fearsome sea rovers in 1350 BCE and travel through to the present day, examining the causes of modern piracy and global attempts to stop it.

The History of Pirates Diploma Course explores the Golden Age of Piracy and its development in the waters of the Caribbean, the east coast of America, the eastern Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean.

You’ll be introduced to the buccaneers and the ferocious Barbary pirates who terrorised the waters of the Mediterranean, discover the ships that pirates favoured, and feel what it was like to live the day-to-day life of a pirate – learning about the Pirate Code, the weapons they used and the superstitions they held.

We’ll tour famous pirate ships and discover the exploits of the famous pirates – Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Black Bart, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Grainne O’Malley (the Pirate Queen of Ireland), Zheng Yi Sao, and Rachel Wall.

The course also shares what many love about pirate history – the stories. You’ll learn about John Avery’s sacking of the treasure ship of the Moghul Prince of India, Howell Davis’ attack on Gambia Castle and Blackbeard’s blockade of Charleston.

By studying this course, you will:

• Learn about the origins and development of piracy
• Explore the Golden Age of Piracy
• Be introduced to the buccaneers and Barbary pirates
• Become familiar with day-to-day pirate life and the Pirate Code
• Discover famous pirates and pirate ships
• Follow stories of daring pirate attacks
• Gain an understanding of the causes behind modern-day piracy

Examining the cultural and economic contexts within which piracy developed across the ages, the History of Pirates Diploma Course will be of benefit to those who are interested in history, literature or cultural studies.

Those who have followed the fictional swashbuckling adventures of pirates in the media and wish to discover the truths of piracy will also gain a lot from the course.