The Pirate History Podcast

Okay, so it's really only two books. We cover The English Book of Common Prayer, the English Civil War, and Oliver Cromwell. Then we talk about The English-American and Cromwell's Western Design, including Thomas Gage, Diego Lucifer, and Henry Morgan.

The Spanish Empire was in decline. The British & Dutch East India Companies spread throughout the world. In the West Indies the new European colonies brought slavery, luxury, and pirates. On the island of Tortuga buccaneers and puritans fight for control.

The years of raising tension between England and Spain, Elizabeth and Phillip, raise to a fever pitch. Sir Francis Drake continues his personal war, this time as the Queen's Admiral. The fighting culminates in the climactic naval battle in the English Chanel between the English Navy and The Spanish Armada.

The Sea Beggars embark on a war against the Spanish. Their fleets reign on the North Sea as they search for a port to call home. They ally with the English and Protestant French forces against the powers of Spain and France, but dark days in Paris push Europe over the brink to open war.

While John Hawkins was on his troublesome voyage in the Caribbean, Europe was sailing toward war. In the Low Countries their blossoming Republic was in a life or death struggle with their Spanish overlords. After suffering a serious defeat, a group of ragtag, desperate young pirates arise as the only hope of the Dutch people.

Francis Drake continues his voyage of circumnavigation. The Golden Hind and her crew traverse the Strait of Magellan, terrorize the Pacific coast of South America and claim the first land in North America for England. And then they become the first Englishmen to travel round the globe.

Francis Drake sets out on his most famous voyage to the New World. Shrouded in secrecy, this voyage will be the one that will see his name remembered forever. However, troubles on board involving a nobleman claiming to have dark powers and a near mutiny almost end the voyage before it begins.

Francis Drake sailed back to the Caribbean and the Spanish Main again and again to seek his revenge. Growing bolder and more audacious with every voyage, the Spanish name him The Dragon and Spain's most wanted. He finally strikes a blow that makes Phillip of Spain take notice and for which Elizabeth grants him his knighthood.

Francis Drake was the most famous and notorious mariner of his generation. In England he was a hero and respected navy officer. To the Spanish he was a loathsome pirate. Their conflict starts on the troublesome voyage of John Hawkins.

The first months of Queen Elizabeth's reign were some of the most dangerous she faced. She overcame those challenges with the help of a group of ambitious, talented and notorious sea captains. Together they set England on a path that would build The British Empire.

She was called a Pirate Queen by the Spanish for daring to challenge their monopoly on The New World. She became a monarch to rival and eclipse the most powerful and influential in Europe, including her father. Her policies led to England's status as a global naval power, established their New World colonies, and were the basis for generations of infamous men and women who would raise the black and fly under a pirate flag.

Religion and politics. Stick with me, this is all hugely important to the world and worldview of the Caribbean pirates. We discuss Martin Luther, the schism in the Catholic Church that led to Protestantism, the resulting political turmoil in Europe and the effects on England. This conflict shaped the Old World and the New World and led to wars that employed some of the most notorious pirates of all time.

I finally get to Christopher Columbus. Somehow I manage to tie in little known historical curiosities like the Black Death, the Mongol Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. We get to the Spanish colonization of the New World, the conquest of native peoples and the beginnings of slavery.

The explorers that first crossed the Atlantic to explore and conquer the New World were birthed by a European continent simmering with religious strife and political tension. Less an episode about pirates and more a snapshot of 15th century Europe and the characters that launched the Age of Exploration.

Our very first episode. Before we dive into things, I wanted to take a minute to discuss the podcast, what we'll be talking about, and give you a look into the kind of show this is going to be. As well as tell you a little about myself. The beginning is always a good place to start.