Crime Stories - The Golden Age of Piracy: three high-seas eras

Between the 1650s and 1730s, maritime piracy shaped the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Historians often divide this era into three phases: the buccaneering period targeting Spanish shipping, the Pirate Round extending into the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, and the post-Spanish Succession surge. Piracy grew as valuable cargo expanded across vast waters while European navies shrank. Sailors trained in official navies joined these ventures, creating the historical foundation that still inspires modern depictions of pirates today.

Source: Wikipedia