[sotd] February 3, 2005 [Pirate Soul: History]

        Site of the Day for Thursday, February 3, 2005

        Pirate Soul: History

Today's site, from the Pirate Soul Museum in Key West, Florida, features a
stirring portrayal of the history of piracy, stretching from 14th century
B.C. to the nineteenth century. Gentle Subscribers will discover a wealth
of lore and legend on a topic which has always held an allure in the
popular imagination.

"Freedom, Fear and Fortune ... In a time when men were either owners or
owned, piracy offer a rare taste of freedom that few in the world could
experience. ... But becoming a pirate meant abandoning your old life and
embracing a culture of lawlessness and brutal violence. For many the lure
of unimaginable wealth and freedom outweighed these costs. Even the
ultimate. For the liberty it provided was virtually guaranteed to end at
the gallows." - from the website

The site delves into topics exploring the historical background of piracy
from the fourteenth century B.C to the ninetieth century A.D and features
legendary buccaneers such as Blackbeard and Captain James Kidd. Rummage
through the site to explore the lives of other, less well known buccaneers,
some of the surprising codes which developed on pirate vessels and the
notorious figures who generally ended up on the gallows tree. Meet a few of
the successful buccaneers, such as Sir Captain John Morgan, one of the few
to die peacefully in his own bed surrounded by both honors (having been
knighted by Charles II) and riches gleaned by his piratical career. Other
fascinating bits of pirate lore include weapons and treasure, their code of
conduct --a sort of rough democracy among thieves-- the story of the Jolly
Roger, pirate navigation techniques, food and medicine.

Sail over to the site to explore the dauntless tales of the pirates at:

http://www.piratesoul.com/history.html

  A.M. Holm
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