<span style='`font-size`:25pt;`line-height`:100%'>Topic for `5-5`-04</span>
Today I am going to dedicate the whole topic to one, a discussion on the amount of pirates from 1500 to 1900 in the Caribbean, and after.
Time Period 1500 to 1550, The Colonization of the Caribbean:
During this time, the Caribbean was still being explored and colonized. I think that a agreeable number would be 150 to 250 pirates at this time due to that Caribbean wasn't really that big yet.
Time Period 1551 to 1600, The Caribbean Grows:
During this time, the Caribbean was developed moderately, and piracy probably started to really develop. I think that a agreeable number would be 300 to 500 pirates at this time due to that the Caribbean had major trade ships and ports to operate from.
Time Period 1601 to 1650, Piracy Grows, Technology Starts to Advance:
During this time, ships were becoming cheaper to build and crew, so more merchants appeared. With that came more pirates. Also the invention of the flintlock system for firearms helped warefare technology advance into a new age of warfare. I think a agreeable number would be 600 to 1,000 pirates at this time due to that it was getting easier to afford ships and that there were so many merchants.
Time Period 1651 to 1700, the True Begining of the Golden Age of Piracy:
This is probably when piracy was climbing into big numbers. New ships like the Sloop were starting to be used. The flintlock was coming into major use. Also, Louis the 14th's wars created opportunities for Privateers (at times, there was a very thin line in the difference between Privateer and Pirate, Captain Kid is an example) I think a agreeable number would be 1,150 to 1,700 due to that technology and war were major events causing the creation of many pirates.
Time Period 1701 to 1715, Prelude to the High Point of Piracy:
This is the time were the last war of Louis the 14th takes place before he dies. Durin this time, there are probably 1,500 to 2,000 pirates already, but after the war ends, probably 100,000 sailors or more will be unemployed by all European Countries.
Time Period 1716 to 1725, The High Point of Piracy:
Wars in Europe have ended, and probably 100,000 sailors are out of a job. A good amount probably are reduced to piracy. So probably there are 2,250 to 3,250 pirates. But with no war for European countries to concentrait on, they concentrait their efforts on the pirates. Probaby as early as 1720 signs of a end to the Golden Age of Piracy is in sight.
Time Period 1726 to 1750, The End of the High Point of Piracy, and Golden Age of Piracy:
The European Powers in this time crack down on pirates, and numbers are reduced a lot to probably 800 to 1,300, most of these pirates are small time, not like the legends of a few years past. The Romantic Golden Age of Piracy is gone.
Time Period 1751 to 1775, The Calm of Pirate Action:
At this time, Pirate operations are low, around 1,000 pirates. But wars like the Seven Years War between France and Britain, make jobs for Privateers.
Time Period 1776 to 1800, The Age of Revolutionary Wars:
During this time, both the American Revolution and the French Revolution take place. Britain, America, France, and eventually other countries hire Privateers. With a increase of Privateers, pirates increased too. Probably around 1,000 to 1,500 pirates roam the Caribbean.
Time Period 1801 to 1815, The Napoleonic Wars:
During this time, Privateers for Both France and England thrive on merchant ships and on each other. This also led to a constant rate of pirates around 1,000 to 1,500 pirates.
Time Period 1816 to 1825, The End of Privateering:
During this time, Napoleon is gone, and also are the wars. It is sort of like a rerun of after the death of Louis the 14th. Pirates are up around 1,400 to 1,800, maybe even as high as 2,000. Privateers had to do something, they had no wars to fight so they went to Piracy. But the European countries had learned their lesson last time, and quickly cracked down on them.
Time Period 1826 to 1900, The Industrial age and the end of Traditional Pirates:
During this time, there wasn't much call for privateers and ship technolgy became to expensive, so modern iron ships could easily crush a wooden ship. When the age of sails ended (use of ships with no sails in the navy, and 50% less use in Civilian use), old fashioned romantic, heavily and overpowerly armed piracy ended. Probably no more than a 900 (Probably more like 750) pirates roamed the Caribbean. You can thank the invention of the paddle wheel, propeller, steam engine, iron sided ships, use of cannon that are not mounted on the side in broadsides, and much more.
After 1900:
After the end the age of sail, piracy was more like robbery. Pirates were more like just a bunch of civilians on a fast sporting boat armed with what weapons they could get. At this point, piracy goes hand in hand with drug dealings and smugglings. It is not romantinc anymore.
As you can see, piracy in the Caribbean had its best days 200 to 300 years ago. Like many things, technology just made them obsolete.
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NOTE: Let's not forget the statistics here. Remember that a average pirate crew is somewere between 50 and 100, and that there are only a couple of few big ships of 150 to 200. So when you take a number from above, like 2,250 to 3,250 pirates:
A total of 45 to 65 groups of 50.
25% of these groups are in small ships of 50 men in each ships (so for above, 11 to 16 small ships with 50 men each)
25% of these groups are in small ships of 100 men in each ship (so for above, 5 to 8 small ships with 100 men each)
20% of these groups are in big ships of 150 men (probably 200 sometimes, but we will go with 150) in each ship (so for above, 3 to 4 big ships with 150 men each)
30% of these groups were in little groups of boats (so for above, 13 to 19 groups of 50 men in boats)
So now, for the statistics from 1600 to 1750, use the percentages above, for any other, take away the 20% in big ships and make each of the small ship categories 35%.
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So what do you think? Would you say that is accurate? Post your opinions.
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ops
:dio 
