TELEVISION

Real History of Pirates

Series: Real History of Pirates
4.4
(20)
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Episodes
24
Rating
TVPG
Year
2021
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

Other than scale, what is the difference between a pirate and the vast armies of an emperor? Were the men who famously traversed the Atlantic actually heroic explorers--or were they...pirates? In The Real History of Pirates, you'll look at world history from a new point of view, realizing much of what you've learned before should be viewed through a more accurate, post-imperialistic filter.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1 to 3 of 24

1. What is a Pirate?

26m

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Explore the reasons piracy has endured from ancient times until today, and why it is so difficult to both define and eradicate. How do we understand the rule of law and the rights of nations and individuals--not only on the high seas, but in other borderless realms stretching from cyberspace to outer space?

2. Pirate Facts and Fictions

26m

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Examine popular pirate legends, and discover which aspects include some truth and which contain none at all. While much of the information we have about pirates and piracy comes from fiction as opposed to historical texts, pirate literature can teach us a lot about the jolly roger, gold-filled treasure chests, the pirate Edward Thatch (also known as Blackbeard), and more.

3. Real Pirates of the Caribbean

27m

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In the 16th century, the Spanish had the largest European presence in the Caribbean. Learn how that power hold was broken and which nationalities joined in the subsequent piratical free-for-all. How do we know what happened there? Discover the historical importance of Alexander Exquemelin's Buccaneers of America and A General History of the Pyrates by "Captain Charles Johnson."

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great Coursesdirector
The Great Coursesproducer
Manushag N. Powellactor