This wide-ranging book looks at the reality of how pirates lived and operated, from the ancient world right up to the pirates of today's cargo ships or luxury yachts in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. The History of Pirates also examines the actions and pirate ethics of less famous pirates and their eras, such as the Japanese pirates of the 13th-16th centuries and Zheng Yi and his wife's pirate alliance in 19th century China. With features on particular pirates such as Blackbeard and William Kidd, and how the unwritten pirate code evolved into today's merchant shipping contracts, The History of Pirates illuminates the broader historical and geographical scope of piracy and provides a fascinating introduction to the reality of life on board a buccaneer ship.