The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard

The author Colin Woodard, who studied history at the University of Cambridge, is a best-selling author and an international journalist. In what kind of an era would evil pirates become national heroes? Queen Elizabeth, the leader of the country, was even called 'the biggest pirate commander in England'! What happened to these pirates with the support of their country? Did they stay lucky all along? The government and pirates worked together in mutual benefit and support, and achieved a win-win situation. Inspired by this, many hot-blooded young people joined the rank of pirates, which meant not only infinite wealth, but also glory and status. As a result, pirates’ looting of passing ships was legalized by the English government at that time. Sir Francis Drake was also one of the First men awarded the title of 'Royal Pirate'. Queen Elizabeth even met him in person, listened to what he had seen along the journey for six hours, and even bestowed a knighthood on Drake. Ironically, the pirate Francis Drake, who was supposed to be condemned, was welcomed in England by all English people, like a returning hero at that time. We can say that: where there is water and ships, there are pirates. Pirates have been around for a long time, from as early as the age of the ancient Greece, and ancient Rome, to as late as today's Somali pirates, who have been giving troubles to the international community. However, Drake was actually a pirate, a robber at sea, who did everything but good deeds.

During the voyage, he found a strait at the southernmost end of South America, and named it Drake Passage. After that, it was a man named Francis Drake that led the fleet and accomplished the circumnavigation. When he led the fleet and arrived in the Philippines, he was killed in a dispute and made into a sandwich. However, Magellan himself did not finish the whole circumnavigation. When we speak of the Great era of Maritime Discovery in the sixteenth century, some of us would probably think of Magellan, the first person to sail around the globe. Today we will unlock the book, The Republic of Pirates, Being the true and surprising story of the Caribbean Pirates and the man who brought them down.

The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard