Myths about Pirates

Did you know that one of the most notorious female pirates in the world was Ching Shih? She was a Chinese business woman in the late 18th to mid 19th century. She had many other occupations including: a salt trader, gambling house and brothel owner, and even a prostitute. However, she was well known for being a female pirate. She was a fierce pirate and her legacy made people wonder what it would be like to meet her in person.  During the Golden Age of Piracy, there were quite a few infamous female pirates that sailed the sees. Nevertheless, their appearances  were not what you would expect. In a mainly male pirate world where masculinity was the majority, a female pirate was expected to not survive. Even if a female pirate was spotted, she would most likely be targeted because it was popular believe that a woman would not endure in that type of lifestyle. So, most of them would disguise themselves as a man to avoid that type of conflict.  To meet one of them knowing who they wer

Did you know that Captain Henry Morgan was Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica? This was one of his many titles in his life. People see him as one of the legendary pirates. However, not every story about Captain Morgan is true. For example, in the book, "Buccaneers and Pirates," there are some misconceptions about his childhood and how he grew up. In the story, Frank Stockton explains that "in the late 17th century there was a little baby boy born with a father as a farmer and a mother that churned, and tended the cows and chickens" (Stockton 132). Although, it was never proven what his parents did when he was a child. These statements in the book are used to flare up Captain Morgan's history.  Nevertheless, most stories about him are factual. Undoubtedly he was one of the most successful pirates of all time. For instance, Captain Morgan's capture of Panama was one of his most notable accomplishments. In August 1670, he sailed 36 ships and nearly 2,000 buccan

Did you know that the Spanish dollar was used by many countries as the first international currency because of its uniformity? Even the United States used it as its first form of currency until the Coinage Act of 1957. In the book, "Under the Black Flag," were from the New World around the late 1500s. This was happening around the time called the great pirate era when pirates were hauling off large amounts of treasure. David Cordingly explains that "the Spanish dollar was called the "Pieces of Eight" and were produced from Spain. They usually had the Spanish coat of arms on one side and a design representing the pillars of Hercules on the other. The twin pillars symbolized the limits of the ancient world at the Strait of Gibraltar, and the early designs they were depicted rising out of the sea"(Cordingly 36). The Pieces of Eight, also known as pesos, were the most famous treasures from the New World. They were some of the many pillages of pirates from