elanya

The late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries are often referred to as the ‘Golden Age of Piracy’. During this period, European pirates preying on the North American and African coasts were at their peak, both in terms of their numbers and the losses they inflicted on merchant vessels. The end of the period coincides with the introduction and, more importantly, the enforcement, of stronger laws and punishments dealing with piracy. While this can be, in part, directly linked to the need for more effective methods of dealing with this outlaw group, a number of other social and political changes occurred during this period which increased the desire to eradicate these scourges of the seas. These changes in attitude were part of a general trend, but they can be best illuminated by examining a few specific cases. The proprietary colonies of North and South Carolina ably demonstrate these changes in attitude, especially when compared with the neighboring royal colony of Virginia. Additional material from other sources serves to link these specific examples back into their broader context.

I also have now read most of prolixfootle's The Renaissance Agency, because he based *his* monday microfic on it, and eventually provided a link. I like to think that with the number of friends (and sister!) of mine his agency has abducted, I might have caught on that *something* was up ;) It's a neat story, anyway :) The Shan parts are especially fun >:D Hee! Kicking old (evil?) men in the head...