The dastardly deeds of the Barbary Pirates are little known today, despite the fact that they terrorized the seas and the shores of Europe for more than 400 years. Join host Hunter Ellis, Kara Cooney, and Charles Ingram, as they mount a special expedition.

During the heyday of piracy, fearsome buccaneers sailed the Caribbean in search of booty. Fortresses are raided, swords are drawn, and galleons clash in an incredible story of glittering treasure and swashbuckling adventures.

Blackbeard. Anne Bonny. Henry Jennings. Calico Jack. Henry Morgan. Black Bart Roberts. During the mid to late 17th and early 18th centuries, they were feared criminals. The Caribbean was their domain, the parade of treasure and cargo to Europe their target. The origins of Caribbean piracy began when Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas. Two years later, the Pope granted Spain the exclusive right to the Caribbean and most of the New World. The Spanish reaped an immense fortune in gold and silver, but with a price. England, France, and Holland all desired a portion of this wealth, and each established Caribbean bases and used privateers--private sailors fighting for profit--to protect their interests and steal Spanish treasure. The line between privateering and piracy became blurred. We'll examine this Golden Age of Piracy and the true stories of the infamous pirates, how they operated, and their successes and failures in this dark and deadly profession.

Haven, graveyard, legend, and lore. History was made and lies buried on Pirate Island -- the coral ringed Isle Saint Marie off the coast of Madagascar that sheltered the world's most ruthless 18th century pirates. This real "Treasure Island" was home for pirates like Captain Kidd, who continue to capture our modern day imagination, and sailed from this very real place in history. This two-hour special voyages with underwater explorer Barry Clifford as he dives for treasure on sunken pirate ships and reveals secrets on land of hidden pirate tunnels, forbidden graveyards, and mysterious symbols. Interlaced with reenactments of the pirates' lives and exploits in the busy shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean, Pirate Island offers a wealth of modern-day adventure.

A new war rages off the world's coastlines. Piracy is making a comeback. Intelligence indicates that pirates and terrorists are merging tactics. Over 90% of international trade travels by water, and pirates have long known what Sir Walter Raleigh once said: "Whosoever commands the sea commands the trade; whoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself." Nations and corporations are racing to protect themselves and their goods. So far the pirates are ahead, but new international response units and mercenary ships are combating the attacks. The U.S. Coast Guard trains navies worldwide in anti-piracy measures, but corrupt law enforcement officials mar advances in their effectiveness. Though Captain Kidd and Blackbeard have disappeared into Davy Jones's Locker, piracy is a growing threat to the world's economy and security. Today's pirate is organized, political, and will command world attention once again.

The dastardly deeds of the Barbary Pirates are little known today, despite the fact that they terrorized the seas and the shores of Europe for more than 400 years. Join host Hunter Ellis, Kara Cooney, and Charles Ingram, as they mount a special expedition.

During the heyday of piracy, fearsome buccaneers sailed the Caribbean in search of booty. Fortresses are raided, swords are drawn, and galleons clash in an incredible story of glittering treasure and swashbuckling adventures.

Blackbeard. Anne Bonny. Henry Jennings. Calico Jack. Henry Morgan. Black Bart Roberts. During the mid to late 17th and early 18th centuries, they were feared criminals. The Caribbean was their domain, the parade of treasure and cargo to Europe their target. The origins of Caribbean piracy began when Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas. Two years later, the Pope granted Spain the exclusive right to the Caribbean and most of the New World. The Spanish reaped an immense fortune in gold and silver, but with a price. England, France, and Holland all desired a portion of this wealth, and each established Caribbean bases and used privateers--private sailors fighting for profit--to protect their interests and steal Spanish treasure. The line between privateering and piracy became blurred. We'll examine this Golden Age of Piracy and the true stories of the infamous pirates, how they operated, and their successes and failures in this dark and deadly profession.

Haven, graveyard, legend, and lore. History was made and lies buried on Pirate Island -- the coral ringed Isle Saint Marie off the coast of Madagascar that sheltered the world's most ruthless 18th century pirates. This real "Treasure Island" was home for pirates like Captain Kidd, who continue to capture our modern day imagination, and sailed from this very real place in history. This two-hour special voyages with underwater explorer Barry Clifford as he dives for treasure on sunken pirate ships and reveals secrets on land of hidden pirate tunnels, forbidden graveyards, and mysterious symbols. Interlaced with reenactments of the pirates' lives and exploits in the busy shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean, Pirate Island offers a wealth of modern-day adventure.

A new war rages off the world's coastlines. Piracy is making a comeback. Intelligence indicates that pirates and terrorists are merging tactics. Over 90% of international trade travels by water, and pirates have long known what Sir Walter Raleigh once said: "Whosoever commands the sea commands the trade; whoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself." Nations and corporations are racing to protect themselves and their goods. So far the pirates are ahead, but new international response units and mercenary ships are combating the attacks. The U.S. Coast Guard trains navies worldwide in anti-piracy measures, but corrupt law enforcement officials mar advances in their effectiveness. Though Captain Kidd and Blackbeard have disappeared into Davy Jones's Locker, piracy is a growing threat to the world's economy and security. Today's pirate is organized, political, and will command world attention once again.

The dastardly deeds of the Barbary Pirates are little known today, despite the fact that they terrorized the seas and the shores of Europe for more than 400 years. Join host Hunter Ellis, Kara Cooney, and Charles Ingram, as they mount a special expedition.

During the heyday of piracy, fearsome buccaneers sailed the Caribbean in search of booty. Fortresses are raided, swords are drawn, and galleons clash in an incredible story of glittering treasure and swashbuckling adventures.

Blackbeard. Anne Bonny. Henry Jennings. Calico Jack. Henry Morgan. Black Bart Roberts. During the mid to late 17th and early 18th centuries, they were feared criminals. The Caribbean was their domain, the parade of treasure and cargo to Europe their target. The origins of Caribbean piracy began when Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas. Two years later, the Pope granted Spain the exclusive right to the Caribbean and most of the New World. The Spanish reaped an immense fortune in gold and silver, but with a price. England, France, and Holland all desired a portion of this wealth, and each established Caribbean bases and used privateers--private sailors fighting for profit--to protect their interests and steal Spanish treasure. The line between privateering and piracy became blurred. We'll examine this Golden Age of Piracy and the true stories of the infamous pirates, how they operated, and their successes and failures in this dark and deadly profession.

Haven, graveyard, legend, and lore. History was made and lies buried on Pirate Island -- the coral ringed Isle Saint Marie off the coast of Madagascar that sheltered the world's most ruthless 18th century pirates. This real "Treasure Island" was home for pirates like Captain Kidd, who continue to capture our modern day imagination, and sailed from this very real place in history. This two-hour special voyages with underwater explorer Barry Clifford as he dives for treasure on sunken pirate ships and reveals secrets on land of hidden pirate tunnels, forbidden graveyards, and mysterious symbols. Interlaced with reenactments of the pirates' lives and exploits in the busy shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean, Pirate Island offers a wealth of modern-day adventure.

A new war rages off the world's coastlines. Piracy is making a comeback. Intelligence indicates that pirates and terrorists are merging tactics. Over 90% of international trade travels by water, and pirates have long known what Sir Walter Raleigh once said: "Whosoever commands the sea commands the trade; whoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself." Nations and corporations are racing to protect themselves and their goods. So far the pirates are ahead, but new international response units and mercenary ships are combating the attacks. The U.S. Coast Guard trains navies worldwide in anti-piracy measures, but corrupt law enforcement officials mar advances in their effectiveness. Though Captain Kidd and Blackbeard have disappeared into Davy Jones's Locker, piracy is a growing threat to the world's economy and security. Today's pirate is organized, political, and will command world attention once again.