Introducing Piracy

What is a Pirate?• A thief of the seas or oceans

• Someone who uses violence to steal the property of another vessel

• Someone who makes it his business to sail with the express intention of robbery or plunder

• The captain or crew member of an armed vessel which sails without legal commission, with the intention of attacking other vessels in order to steal treasure

What is a Privateer?

• The captain or crew of an armed vessel sailing under the commission of a sovereign power against the enemy

• A privateer was a pirate who by commission or contract from a government was authorized to seize or destroy a merchant vessel of another nation.

• Privateers were an inexpensive means of weakening the enemy by hassling their trade routes

• Privateers allowed nations to avoid the need to maintain and create a navy

Activity: Graffiti WallScenario: You are living in Europe during the 1500s to the 1800s and

you want to become either a pirate or privateer

Task I: List the benefits and rewards of both options in a chart

Task II: In your groups, brainstorm problems or obstacles that you might encounter as a pirate or privateer

Task III: Make a decision