"Radical Pirates?" The Source

For this class, please do the following:

• Reread Christopher Hill's essay "Radical Pirates?" This is the essay (in addition to the work of Hill's students, Linebaugh and Rediker) that began the contemporary interest in pirates as a manifestation of class struggle and, in some cases, social protest.
• Review all the rest of the material on Pirates that we've looked at during the past several weeks, including MHH, Ch. 5, but the other materials too. Check our 'Texts Page' to make sure you have everything.

The question I want you to explore is whether, in your judgment, Hill's essay goes beyond the evidence it cites. Please write about 350 words.

That is: what is the status of the claim that some pirate groups were "radical", in the sense Hill defines at the beginning of his essay? (One of the virtues of Hill's essay is that he does define 'radical' at the outset).

Bring all the essays to class. We will discuss this interesting and challenging claim, and the arguments against it.

Email your essay to me, and to your group.