PIRATE HISTORY
Beyond the legends. Behind the myths.
Into the real Golden Age of Piracy.
The movies gave us cursed treasure, ghost ships, sea monsters and larger-than-life pirates. But the real history of piracy is filled with characters, adventures and stories every bit as fascinating.
The Black Pearl Show explores the people, ships, places, customs, legends and lore of piracy—and occasionally asks just how much truth might be hiding beneath the Hollywood mythology.
FACT, FICTION & PIRATE LORE
DID PIRATES REALLY BURY TREASURE?
Rarely. Most pirate loot was meant to be spent, traded or divided among the crew—not buried for future treasure hunters.
Did Pirates Have a Code?
Absolutely. Many crews operated under written articles governing everything from division of plunder to discipline and compensation for injuries.
DID Pirates Walk the Plank?
Not nearly as often as Hollywood would have us believe. Pirates had considerably more direct ways of dealing with enemies.
DID PIRATES REALLY BURY TREASURE?
Rarely. Most pirate loot was meant to be spent, traded or divided among the crew—not buried for future treasure hunters.
Did Pirates Have a Code?
Absolutely. Many crews operated under written articles governing everything from division of plunder to discipline and compensation for injuries.
DID Pirates Walk the Plank?
Not nearly as often as Hollywood would have us believe. Pirates had considerably more direct ways of dealing with enemies.
FROM HISTORY TO THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
One of our favorite parts of exploring Pirates of the Caribbean is discovering where fantasy ends and history begins.
Ships, weapons, navigation, pirate codes, legendary ports, maritime superstitions and even some of the franchise’s most famous names have roots in the real world. Throughout the Black Pearl Show, we’ll explore those connections—along with the places where Disney wisely decided that history needed a few more curses, skeletons and sea monsters.
MORE PIRATE HISTORY IS COMING ABOARD
As the Black Pearl Show sets sail again, we’ll be expanding this section with stories from the Golden Age of Piracy, legendary pirates, famous ships, notorious ports, maritime myths and the real history hiding behind Pirates of the Caribbean.
Check back as the archive grows—or join the Cursed Listeners’ Crew and sail along with us.