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Man, Hollywood PR has done some fine brand image work on pirates in the last century or so (greenswashing?). “Pirate” today conjures the image of a dashing rogu
by jl6 5y ago
Man, Hollywood PR has done some fine brand image work on pirates in the last century or so (greenswashing?). “Pirate” today conjures the image of a dashing rogue standing up to power. The murder, rape and slaving really get swept under the carpet.
- hef19898 5y agoAs does the fact that caribean pirates formed a democratic government at one point. At the same time naval practices, from sodomie to whipping, isn't talked about a lot neither. You uave a point so, Hollywood has a tendency of portraying romantic aspects when it comes to history.
- foldr 5y agoIt's 'sodomy'. Reminds me of this classic: https://nyupress.org/9780814712351/sodomy-and-the-pirate-tradition/ https://nyupress.org/9780814712351/sodomy-and-the-pirate-tra...
- ransom1538 5y agoPirates were complicated in the 15-17th century. They were usually backed by a kingdom. As a captain one way to get rich was to be given a "pirate pass" - in which you could terrorize shipping from from other hostile kingdoms. Example below. As a pirate you wanted a place where you could restock - so they would answer to and work for kingdoms that were expanding in the new world. The most treasured ships (in the entire world ) were leaving from south america so full of stolen gold they would often sink. That is why you see movies of pirates in the gulf of mexico. But honestly every nation had them - they operated throughout the known world. One of the coolest 16th century castles - was created to stop pirates raiding spanish shipping in Florida. It is amazing with an amazing history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_San_Marcos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_San_Marcos John Paul Jones was the first "American Pirate". He worked for the US / France and would raid british shipping. https://museeprotestant.org/en/notice/huguenot-pirates-in-the-17th-century/ https://museeprotestant.org/en/notice/huguenot-pirates-in-th... The treaty of Tordesillas on the 7th of June 1494 declared that lands lying beyond the Atlantic Ocean, whether discovered in the past or the future, were to be shared uniquely between Spain and Portugal. In addition, Pope Alexander VI gave his approval in a papal bull. This treaty did not receive the agreement of France or England and they were all the more offended by it because soon after this, the Spanish refused to allow any other nation to tradewith their American colonies. It was in such circumstances as this that both France and England allowed their corsairs to attack Spanish vessels in Europe and the West Indies, with the justification that they had letters giving official permission from their government, although these papers were sometimes false. Indeed, sometimes the politicians actively encouraged such ventures.
- goto11 5y agoIt's older than Hollywood. R.L.Stevenson's The Treasure Island (1883) did a lot to romanticize pirates and establish the tropes of the pirate genre (like treasure maps). In general you will see romantization of outlaw groups soon after they stop being a real-world threat.