http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy
Perhaps you would see creatures and monsters
from the deep! This map from 1544 shows such
mythical beasts…
Why were some explorers called Pirates and others
Privateers?
Pirates were people who committed acts of
robbery and often violence at sea. They did not
have loyalty to any particular country. Pirates have
been reported at sea since the 14th Century! They
have a reputation of being ferocious and brutal.
The famous Blackbeard started his time at sea as a
Privateer before turning to the dark side of piracy!
Privateers were really Pirates, but legal ones! During times
of war to help with costs, Governments would write a
‘letter of Marque,’ that enabled owners of private ships to
prepare them for war and use it to attack enemy ships.
Any treasure or ‘booty’ had to be shared with the Royal
Treasury. Sometimes Privateers would attack ships that
belonged to other countries they were not at war with.
Which would you have chosen to be?
Did you know that many
pirates were women?
The most successful pirate
was probably Black Bart. He
captured over 400 ships!
Blackbeard had the most fearsome reputation. He used to put
lighted tapers in his hair that released black smoke! This made
him look more fearful! Watch this fun clip about him and his ship.
Why did pirates and privateers
visit the galapagos islands?
Around the time of the discovery of the ‘New World’ (The
Americas) by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in
1492, the Golden Age of Piracy began.
The Pope declared that the New World and its riches would be
divided between Spain and Portugal. But that left a question what about other countries in Europe such as France and Great
Britain?
Why did pirates and privateers
visit the galapagos islands?
Spanish ships began raiding the countries of the South
Americas, taking gold and riches from the Aztecs, then from
the Incan Empire. Later they would return to Europe in their
galleons, which were full of treasure. It was on these return
journeys that they were attacked by privateers and pirates
from other European nations, and their treasure seized.
The Galapagos Islands were ideally placed as a base for
raids on treasure laden ships, as they lie off the coast of
South America. They were used as a refuge for waiting
pirates and privateers.
Why didn’t they stay on the islands
for very long?
Discuss your ideas with your learning partners and
then we will share them.
Water, water everywhere… Except in the Galapagos!
Fresh water is difficult to find on the Islands. We need water
to survive. This is the main reason explorers only stayed a
short time.
What did they eat?
Which animals do you think the explorers found to
kill and eat?
Tortoises were slow and easy to catch. As they can survive for a year
without food and water, they were often taken on board and stored
alive to eat later. Sometimes they were turned onto their backs to stop
them moving away.
Friendly and inquisitive birds were easy to find
and kill for a quick meal.
As the islands lie in the middle of the Pacific
Ocean, they provided a rich variety of fish.
As water was difficult to find, cactus pads provided an essential
supply of water and food, as the pads can be eaten! The prickly
pear cactus is still used today for medicinal and nutritional
purposes.
Captain Cook and the baChelor’s
delight!
Read the following extract from a diary Captain Cook wrote during his voyages in the
17th Century. Here he had landed in the Galapagos. Note the food that they ate and
the problem of water.
Captain Cook and the baChelor’s
delight!
Your task!
You are the cook on board the
baChelor’s delight.
Design a daily menu for your
captain using the foods that the
galapagos islands provided.
Maps and mapping
Whilst The Bachelor’s Delight was in
Galapagos, one of the crewmen, William
Ambrose Cowley charted the first map of
the Islands.
How do you think this may compare to a
modern map?
What might you see on a modern map
that is not on this one from 1684?
Make your own explorers map
Your turn pirates!
Imagine you are a member of the crew on the Bachelor’s Delight. Write a postcard
from the islands explaining what they are like, why you are there, the animals you
have seen, the harsh climate, and perhaps some of the strange food you have been
eating! OR
Write a diary extract as if you were a member of the crew. What would daily life on
board the ship be like? Are living conditions hard? What jobs do you have to do?
What are the islands like? Do you have to hunt for your food? How do you find
water? What does tortoise taste like?!