Piracy around the world can be traced back to 1400 BC, but its effects on Spain began in the early 1490s, when pirates entered the Caribbean. piracy in the Caribbean was highly organized and popular. Marauders, pirates and Spanish buccaneers caused problems of the time on top of their already established problems. piracy had many effects on the Spanish. Many innovations have been made to overcome these difficulties. Eventually, piracy affected Spain’s economy, military, and law enforcement, forcing new strategies and policies to eliminate piracy and protect their country.
He became a very popular pirate during his time in the Caribbean. Pirates’ main activities were stealing valuable goods, taking possession of land or even commanding ships. Since the poor job opportunities of the people were not very exciting and profitable, these activities seemed very attractive, and many poor people became pirates. Pirates had certain virtues that also attracted many people to piracy. They are known for freeing slaves by taking slave ships (Piracy 1). Although this was a most noble deed, yet it did not please everyone. Many of the Spaniards bore the fact that they had to wait for another slave ship, or sometimes did not even accept the slaves. This was a small problem that the Spaniards faced because of piracy.
The main effect of piracy among the Spanish was the result of military and war. In 1550 Spanish treasure ships became a target for pirates in the Spanish Principality (Piracy Timeline 1). The Spanish lost many ships to pirates and were forced to develop a defense craft. This is where the Spanish Armada came into place. The hearth of the Armadas was the hearth that protected the deportation to the country of Spain. They did not focus on inter-island ships, which was important for the establishment of the colony (Autengruber 9). Not only did the Spanish have to take care of their ships, but they also had to endure pirate wars with other countries. In 1577 Queen Elizabeth provided support for pirate raids against Spain (Piracy Timeline 1). Even English and French pirate leaders were leading figures in the pirate business. Not only did the enemy commit piracy against the Spaniards, but they forced the Spaniards to make treaties to aid piracy. In 1670, in the Treaty of Madrid, the British government agreed to help the corsairs if the Spanish recognized British rule in the British Isles and the West Indies. This robbery ended with the British, but the French buccaneers continued to deceive and steal until Spain signed the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697, they were recognized as French possessions of St. Domingo (Keen 96-97). All these caused peace treaties and international trade to flourish; And so, led by piracy, he affected the Spanish war. Another positive effect of Spanish military piracy was to force them to seize the Spanish supply system. Every year a fleet would sail from Spain carrying passengers, troops and goods from Europe to the colonies of the New World. The main purpose of this class was to transport the annual supply of silver and valuables to Europe (Piracy 1). This military technique was later used in the Spanish general war.
In addition, piracy had a great effect on the stability of the Spanish economy and their law. Pirates were a threat to Spain’s economy because they constantly stole cargo ships. Ships were also sent to the governors of other countries in Spain. piracy caused many nations among Spain to plan to undergo changes that threatened the peace between them (Piracy 1). Between 1623 and 1638 Dutch pirates captured 500 Portuguese ships in the Caribbean (Piracy Timeline 1). This caused the Spanish to create an Averia Tax on all ships reaching Spain in the Spanish Armada to preside. This tax affected the economy because it hindered the French. They now had to pay tribute when the Spaniards traded with the Spaniards, whereas before they did not have to pay the Spanish taxes, because the Spaniards feared that before they would have to take care of piracy (Autengruber 8-10). The French saw this as a problem and agreed to help in removing the pirates, as mentioned earlier in the Treaty of Ryswick (Keen 97). When piracy forced peace between dissident nations, international trade resonated causing the economy to take a positive turn. piracy created new norms of international law that did not exist before piracy. Before right guns and international guns were the means of international politics (Autengruber 5). This benefited the Spaniards and many other nations.
In the Caribbean around 1750, piracy began to give way because of treaties and peace treaties. After European governments established profitable colonies in the Caribbean, they no longer had to hire pirates. pirates were no longer supported by the nations during the Spanish war and their military plans became stronger because of their presence. . Pirates were no longer common and the charm of piracy seemed to cease (Dowling 1). In 1721 the act of piracy arose which stated that whoever assisted in the act of piracy was presumed guilty (Autengruber 21). This also contributed to the end of piracy. Although piracy has ended for the most part, there are still forms of piracy among the Caribbean seas. Most of them are illegal drug trade, but modern communication and technology, due to the necessary developments, have made the sea a safer place for trade and travel. These promotions come in part from some of the innovations developed during the golden age of piracy. This period may have some negative feelings among the Spaniards, but in the end he will promote his plans and help to expand the world. Work Citation
Autengruber, Christian. “Piracy in the Caribbean”, Nov. 5 2002. < http://www.stud.uni-
muenchen.de/~christian.autengruber/Piracy-Arbeit.pdf>
Dowling, Mike. “Pirates” Mr. Dowling Homework. Apr 30 2002. < http://www
.mrdowling.com/710-pirates.html>
Keen, Benjamin. History of Latin America. Fifth Edition (1996) Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company.
“Piracy in the Caribbean” Nation Master Encyclopedia, Dec 18 2003. master.com/encyclopedia/piracy-in-the-Caribbean>
“The Piracy Timeline”. Pirates hold. Dec 29 2003. < http://pirateshold.buccaneersoft.
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