HIST 90.20 The Golden Age of Piracy, 1660-1730

In this course, we will examine the myths and realities of the ‘Golden Age of Piracy’ between 1660 and 1730. Pirates have always been around, but popular views are shaped almost entirely by this period and its publications, especially The General History of the Pyrates, first published in 1724. We will use the General History and a range of other sources to examine the realities behind the representations, working as historians to interrogate complex and frequently conflicting sources to test and understand the arguments of other historians, from a variety of perspectives. We will also explore how various historians of empire, law, exploration, society, gender, sexuality, culture, literature, and media have responded to pirates and helped to shape, and sometimes misshape, contemporary perceptions.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:INT or SOC; WCult:W

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Class of 2023 and Before Major Dist: INTER, pre-1700/pre-1800; Class of 2024 and Beyond Major Dist: premodern.