Secondary source- https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/pirates/index.html- This is a secondary source that talks about the golden age of piracy. The Golden Age of Piracy spanned the period from approximately 1650 to 1726. This was during the time of when pirates were all around the world instead of just in a select few places like it is today. Also, the people from the Golden Age of Piracy and their exploits form the basis of the modern conception of pirates as depicted in popular culture.
Book- “Pirates Through the Ages: Biographies” by Sonia Benson- This book talks about twenty-six pirates and privateers. Some of the pirates that are included are some of the most famous pirates of the golden age, such as Blackbeard, William Kidd, and Bartholomew.
Primary source- The Law Library of Congress has digitized its collection of pre-1923 piracy trials. This historical collection of piracy trials is critical for understanding how the various nations of the world handled piracy issues before the year 1900.
Secondary source- https://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater/exhibition/1_5.html- This is a secondary source that talks about the infamous pirates in the Atlantic. Pirates traveled around the Caribbean and the North American coast searching for targets to loot and attack. At the peak of world piracy around 1720, there were around 2,000 pirates that were attacking ships and threatening trade.
Primary source- Letter of Marque, written by multiple different people that were not associated with each other. It was a government license in the Age of Sail that authorized a private person, known as a privateer or corsair. People who obtained them were allowed to attack and capture vessels of a nation at war with the issuer. Once captured, the privateers could bring the case of that prize before their own admiralty court for condemnation and transfer of ownership to the privateer. A letter of marque and reprisal would include permission to cross an international border to conduct a reprisal.
Secondary source- https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/golden-age-piracy- This resource talks about the golden era of pirates. As well as this it talks about how pirates have existed since ancient times, they threatened the trading routes of ancient Greece, and seized cargoes of grain and olive oil from Roman ships. It describes what many of the pirates did as well as how most of the famous pirates had a terrifying reputation, and they advertised this by flying gruesome flags, including the 'Jolly Roger' with its picture of skull and crossbones.
http://pirates.hegewisch.net/articles_new.html#privateer- This is a secondary article that includes the pirate code. The pirate code is a major article that was published back in that era of what a pirate should do and follow.