The Golden Age of Piracy

The Golden Age of Piracy, roughly from the late 17th to early 18th century, was a period when maritime piracy flourished in the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Wealth gained from stolen ships—including treasure, cargo, and valuables—made pirates notorious. Many pirates operated outside the law, often recruiting sailors disillusioned with their navies or merchant ships. Authorities eventually cracked down on piracy through naval patrols and legal actions, leading to its decline. This era is popularly remembered for iconic pirates like Blackbeard and for the romanticized idea of swashbuckling pirates as rebels and adventurers.