The surprisingly democratic deck
Debunking the Hollywood pirate
Empires of the global seas
The economy of outlaw life
misslily Vote aye or nay on pirate myths to discover how organized their society actually was.
misslily Pirate Disability Insurance
Paid from the chest, paid from the chest, Losing an arm gets you paid from the chest!
misslily Pirate crews voted to elect captains, limited their absolute power to battles, and could depose them during peacetime.
During which historical era did pirate ships operate under democratic rules like electing their captains?
Under what specific condition was a Golden Age pirate captain granted absolute authority over the crew?
misslily These democratic codes banned gambling and gave elected quartermasters rule-enforcement power.
Which elected pirate officer was responsible for enforcing the ship's rules and checking the captain's power?
What was the formal name for the written constitutions signed by Golden Age pirate crews?
Pirate compensation: A pirate who lost an eye in the 1720s received about 100 silver pieces of eight, which was more than a merchant sailor earned in a whole year.
Why did pirate crews establish their flat, pre-agreed share systems before sailing?
How many shares of captured plunder did a typical Golden Age pirate captain receive compared to a regular crew member?
A ship's officer in charge of steering, signals, and the distribution of provisions and rations. In 1721, Bartholomew Roberts' crew elected a quartermaster to distribute loot and counter the captain's authority.
In Bartholomew Roberts' 1721 pirate code, which injury yielded the highest compensation payout?
Where did pirate crews get the money to pay for their shipboard injury compensation systems?