Golden Age of Piracy

The Golden Age of Piracy, roughly from the late 17th to early 18th century, was a period when piracy peaked in the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. During this time, pirates targeted merchant ships, disrupting trade routes and capturing valuable cargo. Factors like weakened naval patrols, wealth from expanding colonial empires, and political instability contributed to this surge. Notorious pirates such as Blackbeard and Calico Jack became infamous. This era ended as governments increased naval enforcement, and piracy diminished with improved policing and changing economic conditions.