What do pirates do on a ship?

A pirate is a robber who travels by water. Though most pirates targeted ships, some also launched attacks on coastal towns. We often think of pirates as swashbuckling and daring or evil and brutish, but in actual fact most of them were ordinary people who had been forced to turn to criminal activity to make ends meet.

What did pirates do daily?

Pirates' main means of living was to steal from others. They'd steal treasures like gold and jewels, yes, but most of the time, pirates would steal things to aid in their survival. Food, drink, and supplies for sailing would make their way off of one ship and onto a pirate's ship in no time!

What did pirates have on their ships?

Most ships had a little gold, silver, jewels, or some coins aboard, and the crew and captains were often tortured to get them to reveal the location of any such stash. Sometimes, pirates got lucky: In 1694, Henry Avery and his crew sacked the Ganj-i-Sawai, the treasure ship of the Grand Moghul of India.

What was life on a pirate ship like?

But what was life really like for an early 18th-century pirate? The answer: pretty grim. It was a world of staggering violence and poverty, constant danger, and almost inevitable death.

What was the hardest job on a pirate ship?

Cabin boys are the ones who attend to the needs of all the pirates on the ship. It's a job that would require them to be active almost 24/7. Cabin boys were usually hostages, while others were stowaways or were only looking for adventure. This is undeniably one of the worst jobs on the ship.

What Life on a Pirate Ship was like | The Pirates Port

What were pirates most afraid of?

Sailors and pirates tended to be very superstitious - that is, they had a fear of the unknown and used it to explain misfortune (bad things that happened). Living and working on a ship in the middle of the seven seas was a very dangerous job.

What gender was the most successful pirate?

Ching Shih, who lived and pillaged during the Qing Dynasty, has been called the most successful pirate in history.

How often did pirates bathe?

Pirates Had No Option But to Bathe With Seawater

Despite the abundance of seawater, bathing wasn't a common occurrence amongst the pirates. They felt leaving the ship was dangerous and saltwater irritated their skin.

What was forbidden on a pirate ship?

The Pirate Code of Conduct:

They stopped the crew from gambling, bringing women or children on board, or fighting with each other. There were also rules for how to split the treasure they found so everyone got a fair share. There was even a rule on when to go to bed (8pm if you were wondering!

How did pirates use the bathroom?

How did Pirates relieve themselves? In most ships there would be a place at the bow ( front end ) of the ship called the head. This was a hole in the floor to squat over. Faeces would fall directly into the sea below.

How did pirates sleep?

Pirate captains and higher-ranking members had private sleeping quarters, while common sailors had to sleep in one room. Some of them slept on hammocks. Others slept on the floor. It was easier for them to sleep on hammocks because they swayed and rocked with the ship's movements.

What alcohol did pirates drink?

Pirates would ration out the clean water to stay hydrated and mix it with rum. It was the drink of choice, and it flowed freely on pirate ships.

How did ships avoid pirates?

Nations have used their naval forces to repel and pursue pirates, and some private vessels use armed security guards, high-pressure water cannons, or sound cannons to repel boarders, and use radar to avoid potential threats.

How long was a pirates lifespan?

Most pirates did not live longer than 5 years after becoming one.

What does pirate always say?

Ahoy – A pirate greeting or a way to get someone's attention, similar to “Hello” or “hey!”. Arrr, Arrgh, Yarr, Gar – Pirates slang used to emphasize a point. Avast – Pirate speak for pay attention.

How long did most pirates last?

The Golden Age of Piracy spanned the period from approximately 1650 to 1726. During this period, bands of pirates menaced commercial (and sometimes even military) shipping in the Caribbean, along the North American eastern seaboard, the West African coast, and the Indian Ocean.

What was the worst pirate punishment?

Victims of piracy endured torture, floggings, and ceremonies of humiliation, but when brought to justice, the pirates were given such punishments as lengthy prison sentences, transportation to work in the deadly conditions of African mines, or public execution by hanging.

How were pirates paid?

A pirate's “salary” was based on what the crew obtained for the loot they plundered from the target ship. Pirates would very carefully select the target ship because the bounty had to be worth the risky battle that could ensue.

Why is it bad luck to bring a woman on a pirate ship?

No Women on Board

Women were said to bring bad luck on board because they distracted the sailors from their sea duties. This kind of behaviour angered the intemperate seas that would take their revenge out on the ship.

How did pirates clean their teeth?

Even toothbrushes with animal bristles weren't easily available until a century after pirates sailed the seas. If pirates brushed at all, they probably used rags or twigs with frayed ends to clean their teeth. And rags and twigs just can't take care of plaque the way careful brushing and flossing can.

Did female pirates wear pants?

There were two infamous female pirates: Anne Bonny and Mary Read (d. 1721), and both wore the trousers and shirts typical of male mariners when in battle. Alternatively, short billowing trousers known as 'petticoat breeches' were worn which could be tied at the knee.

Did female pirates wear pants or skirts?

The women involved with pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy (1620 to 1720) mostly wore layered skirts with their tops, and some were quite flamboyant. However, if the woman was a pirate she would usually have worn men's pants.

What do pirates call their girlfriends?

matey (or mate)

Who was the most brutal female pirate?

Jacquotte Delahaye

As she was destitute, she joined up with a pirate crew and later commanded a fleet of ships. With striking red hair and the legendary status of surviving many dangerous encounters, she was given the nickname "Back From The Dead Red."

Who was the most loved pirate?

Blackbeard

Blackbeard is possibly the most famous pirate in history, but his life is shrouded in mystery.