It amazes me how much we actually knew about Vitamins and anything related to agriculture, food preservation and gardening. We take everything today we have for granted, and those channels are a good reminder that, sometime in history, some people had to think about everything.
We should construct a monument to honor all the brave souls throughout history who tested all the berries to find out which were poison and which weren't.
Seems to me that scurvy wouldn't be nearly as big an issue with pirates as it would with merchants and with the Royal Navy. Pirates rarely made the sort of transcontinental voyages required - it wasn't profitable for them to do so. Even if they happened to be cruising for weeks on end, they'd cruise where they were most likely to find targets - i.e. coastal areas. This also meant they could take on fresh fruit, water, etc every few days before scurvy would ever become a factor.
i think its pretty clear the association of pirates with scurvy is simply as sailors they were afraid of scurvy like everyone else who sailed on ships. the fact that he points out that scurvy was used as a curse brings that point home.
One traveller of the 1680s (I'll come back with his name and his book), wrote in his book that, as he believed, scurvy is a "sea-going sickness". He believed that you get it simply by working on open ocean. And since he saw sick sailors only during sea voyages, and healthy during shore stays, you can at least see where he got that idea...
Up in modern day Canada when settlers were having a difficult time with scurvy, the Native Americans made them a drink using spruce. Europeans eventually took the idea and made a beer with spruce but of course boiling the tree trimmings gets rid of that lovely vitamin C. Info from the Townsends channel Continental Army spruce beer rations episode.
And don't forget: James Cook (ok he wasn't a pirate) took Sauerkraut ( pickled cabbage ) with him on his trips. He never had any problems with the health of his crew at sea.
Gold and Gunpowder, I have been saying this to many people since people have been saying that pirates in the Caribbean were in terrible condition all the time because of scurvy, but I was like, Excuse me… Do you not realize where they are?!!! They are in the Caribbean, the Caribbean is full of islands that have fruits naturally growing and farms to plunder to get the fruits and vitamins they need! I hope that people use more logic cause we know pirates were not dummies and could survive off the land if they avoid the authorities.
I can say firsthand that pineapple may be delicious but too much of it will lead a pirate to the flux. Ditto for limes. Anything overly strong in citric acid. However, it could also be the large quantities of rum that they tend to be mixed with.
How about doing something on light sources (and other such commodities)? We often take them for granted and most media in that time period often hand wave them but something more in depth about the types and material they used would be interesting.
Anyone who sails the Caribbean now will find 'boucaniers' today. Many pleasure boats bring their days fishing catch to a cove where they'll find a beachside 'shack' where the proprietor will prepare your food...or if you got skunked that day, will offer various local dishes. It's only a few hours sailing time from one island to another, and there's literally hundreds of little coves and inlets with small settlements. Now I understand there's a lot more people there now than then, but the Spanish Main pirates had it pretty easy, compared to 'blue water' sailors going from one continent to another. You're got maybe 60 days for water to remain drinkable under the conditions of the 17th/18th Centuries, after that you're pushing your luck. Not a problem in the Caribbean...big problem in the Pacific. Same with fresh food, usually available throughout the Caribbean basin, only a few days worth for a trans-oceanic trip. after that it's hard tack, maybe some cheese, if you're lucky an occasional egg from the chickens or goat's milk...until those animals died, at which point they went into the pot. (You've got to carry feed for the animals too.) After that, you'd better find hospitable land soon. Some people wonder why sailors didn't just fish. Strangely enough, fish are rather hard to find in the mid-ocean regions, mainly because the feeding areas for small fish (the food supply for bigger fish) are to be found near coastal areas, river outflows, etc. The chances of catching a fish in the middle of the Pacific or Atlantic are slim to none. And you ain't gonna find fruits and vegetables out there either!
Drinking water on a pirate ship: th-cam.com/video/VrYsgEgYNFk/w-d-xo.html Pirate food playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLQSjRW7kXy7zULKzQQ7LuSJCEeIlzR1EC.html&si=FGD_9mShtnMTDv3D
Considering what has already been here established about pirates eating quite well compared to other types of sailors of the time, and how this was more feasible for them because they predominantly operated in shorter routes, often preferring islands and coastal areas to the open sea, it makes sense that scurvy would be less prevelant among pirates of the golden age. Especially along the coasts of the Americas, in the Caribbean, and to an extent even in the south Pacific, but it would be more of a problem among sailors who took longer routes across the open oceans or more barren areas and had to rely on provisions. Notably, potatoes are quite good against scurvy since they're rather high in vitamin C, as well as being quite nutritious in their own rite. Potatoes also keep fairly well without needing to be preserved; they just need to be kept in the dark and somewhat cool and dry so they don't try going to root. I know sailors used them too, but I think you mentioned before that pirates often weren't huge on taters. Which is a shame because I think they're God's gift to man just as much as the coconut.
Did pirates ever rob other pirate ships? And how exactly did pirates go about "hunting" for loot? Did they get Intel about ships and routes? If so. Where did they get that kind of info? Or did pirates just patrol busy areas? I wonder how often a pirate encounter was... Was it something that happened all the time? I heard the oceans are pretty big, so I'd imagine two ships finding each other didn't happen too often.. Except for port areas.
i only know of two cases when pirates stole loot from eachother and they both involved the same pirate, Henry Jennings, whom I will post a biography on Q1 next year. it mostly happened due to him being a pretentious asshole, you'll have to wait for the video they knew what areas were the most travelled in and what goods were transported or produced where, regarding information about specific ships, they got that from people who knew, initially someone on land, then when at sea they could get it from other ships, ships that met at sea regularly stopped each other to trade goods or information, so captured merchants often knew the location of other ships i can only answer your questions vaguely because they are broad
honestly i'd figure itot be happening occasionally due to the idea that these ships ran false flags and went to great lenghts to seem slower and less armed than they truly were. even tho it apparently wasnt the case, i half expected to have accounts of 2 pirate ships encountering each other and proceeding ot engage only to realise they were both acting.
A nice video and an interesting topic. BTW one reason why coconuts were less used and "esteemed" in the West Indies is that coconut trees were likely not native to Americas' Eastern coasts and the Caribbean (The Pacific American Coasts had coconuts, however before) until after 1540 when the coconut was brought there by the Europeans to their plantations. There was less culture in how to use these plants as the natives alike had not used them for long. Because of currents and humans coconuts gradually spread from wrecked ships alike and is now practically found everywhere in the Caribbean. While the Caribbean regions has other native palm trees of various kind (many native and endemic species to specific islands even), the palm species that produces coconuts specifically was a European import from West Africa where it had in turn spread from the Indian Ocean. Coconuts originated in Indian Ocean-Pacific area. 🌴🥥🏴☠
It amazes me how much we actually knew about Vitamins and anything related to agriculture, food preservation and gardening. We take everything today we have for granted, and those channels are a good reminder that, sometime in history, some people had to think about everything.
We should construct a monument to honor all the brave souls throughout history who tested all the berries to find out which were poison and which weren't.
Seems to me that scurvy wouldn't be nearly as big an issue with pirates as it would with merchants and with the Royal Navy. Pirates rarely made the sort of transcontinental voyages required - it wasn't profitable for them to do so. Even if they happened to be cruising for weeks on end, they'd cruise where they were most likely to find targets - i.e. coastal areas. This also meant they could take on fresh fruit, water, etc every few days before scurvy would ever become a factor.
i think its pretty clear the association of pirates with scurvy is simply as sailors they were afraid of scurvy like everyone else who sailed on ships. the fact that he points out that scurvy was used as a curse brings that point home.
I believe in coconut supremacy.
Coconut for everything y'all!
One traveller of the 1680s (I'll come back with his name and his book), wrote in his book that, as he believed, scurvy is a "sea-going sickness". He believed that you get it simply by working on open ocean. And since he saw sick sailors only during sea voyages, and healthy during shore stays, you can at least see where he got that idea...
Up in modern day Canada when settlers were having a difficult time with scurvy, the Native Americans made them a drink using spruce. Europeans eventually took the idea and made a beer with spruce but of course boiling the tree trimmings gets rid of that lovely vitamin C.
Info from the Townsends channel Continental Army spruce beer rations episode.
True. Everyone thought it was a disease you caught from the ocean until they found out their sailors weren't eating the right vitamins.
Always loved details about life as a pirate. Especially Health and dietary details. Great video like usual man!
Such a specific field of interest... Never heard someone say they loved info about pirate diets haha
2:00 amongus sound in the background caught me off guard
And don't forget: James Cook (ok he wasn't a pirate) took Sauerkraut ( pickled cabbage ) with him on his trips. He never had any problems with the health of his crew at sea.
the pickling of vegetables where a real game changer. to be able to take fresh tasting food far from shore.
The Among us sound at 2:00 killed me💀 keep up the good videos bro!
i see Him everywhere
Gold and Gunpowder, I have been saying this to many people since people have been saying that pirates in the Caribbean were in terrible condition all the time because of scurvy, but I was like, Excuse me… Do you not realize where they are?!!! They are in the Caribbean, the Caribbean is full of islands that have fruits naturally growing and farms to plunder to get the fruits and vitamins they need!
I hope that people use more logic cause we know pirates were not dummies and could survive off the land if they avoid the authorities.
Your channel is very good at keeping things historically accurate and interesting
I can say firsthand that pineapple may be delicious but too much of it will lead a pirate to the flux. Ditto for limes. Anything overly strong in citric acid. However, it could also be the large quantities of rum that they tend to be mixed with.
How about doing something on light sources (and other such commodities)? We often take them for granted and most media in that time period often hand wave them but something more in depth about the types and material they used would be interesting.
nice idea for a short i'll see what i can do
Anyone who sails the Caribbean now will find 'boucaniers' today. Many pleasure boats bring their days fishing catch to a cove where they'll find a beachside 'shack' where the proprietor will prepare your food...or if you got skunked that day, will offer various local dishes.
It's only a few hours sailing time from one island to another, and there's literally hundreds of little coves and inlets with small settlements. Now I understand there's a lot more people there now than then, but the Spanish Main pirates had it pretty easy, compared to 'blue water' sailors going from one continent to another.
You're got maybe 60 days for water to remain drinkable under the conditions of the 17th/18th Centuries, after that you're pushing your luck. Not a problem in the Caribbean...big problem in the Pacific. Same with fresh food, usually available throughout the Caribbean basin, only a few days worth for a trans-oceanic trip. after that it's hard tack, maybe some cheese, if you're lucky an occasional egg from the chickens or goat's milk...until those animals died, at which point they went into the pot. (You've got to carry feed for the animals too.) After that, you'd better find hospitable land soon.
Some people wonder why sailors didn't just fish. Strangely enough, fish are rather hard to find in the mid-ocean regions, mainly because the feeding areas for small fish (the food supply for bigger fish) are to be found near coastal areas, river outflows, etc. The chances of catching a fish in the middle of the Pacific or Atlantic are slim to none.
And you ain't gonna find fruits and vegetables out there either!
-SAUERKRAUT had vitamin C and kept aboard a ship.
-The Dutch had less problems with scurvey.
Great stuff,made me reminiscent of my younger years living in the West Indies.
Good video as always.
Oh, by the way.
Will you make video about Battle of Oliwa? Although it fits your second channel more, since it was on the Baltic Sea.
Drinking water on a pirate ship: th-cam.com/video/VrYsgEgYNFk/w-d-xo.html
Pirate food playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLQSjRW7kXy7zULKzQQ7LuSJCEeIlzR1EC.html&si=FGD_9mShtnMTDv3D
Considering what has already been here established about pirates eating quite well compared to other types of sailors of the time, and how this was more feasible for them because they predominantly operated in shorter routes, often preferring islands and coastal areas to the open sea, it makes sense that scurvy would be less prevelant among pirates of the golden age. Especially along the coasts of the Americas, in the Caribbean, and to an extent even in the south Pacific, but it would be more of a problem among sailors who took longer routes across the open oceans or more barren areas and had to rely on provisions.
Notably, potatoes are quite good against scurvy since they're rather high in vitamin C, as well as being quite nutritious in their own rite. Potatoes also keep fairly well without needing to be preserved; they just need to be kept in the dark and somewhat cool and dry so they don't try going to root. I know sailors used them too, but I think you mentioned before that pirates often weren't huge on taters.
Which is a shame because I think they're God's gift to man just as much as the coconut.
Were the bananas they had Musa Paradisia L.? one of the 2 species of the cultivar Gros Michel?
2:00 fun amongus easteregg
Did pirates ever rob other pirate ships? And how exactly did pirates go about "hunting" for loot? Did they get Intel about ships and routes? If so. Where did they get that kind of info? Or did pirates just patrol busy areas?
I wonder how often a pirate encounter was... Was it something that happened all the time? I heard the oceans are pretty big, so I'd imagine two ships finding each other didn't happen too often.. Except for port areas.
i only know of two cases when pirates stole loot from eachother and they both involved the same pirate, Henry Jennings, whom I will post a biography on Q1 next year. it mostly happened due to him being a pretentious asshole, you'll have to wait for the video
they knew what areas were the most travelled in and what goods were transported or produced where, regarding information about specific ships, they got that from people who knew, initially someone on land, then when at sea they could get it from other ships, ships that met at sea regularly stopped each other to trade goods or information, so captured merchants often knew the location of other ships
i can only answer your questions vaguely because they are broad
honestly i'd figure itot be happening occasionally due to the idea that these ships ran false flags and went to great lenghts to seem slower and less armed than they truly were.
even tho it apparently wasnt the case, i half expected to have accounts of 2 pirate ships encountering each other and proceeding ot engage only to realise they were both acting.
Scurvy is a FEATURE of pirate life, not a flaw!!
So parents were right about eating fruits and veggies?
I’ll be eating more fruits and veggies from now on
Great video but i was hoping for the jolly roger video ;-;
it's coming next
@@GoldandGunpowder btw could u do a separate video for the bloody flag/red pennant or maybe include it in the jolly roger video?
What are the songs used in the background?
Is it STV music?
ye
@@GoldandGunpowder I knew it! It was driving me crazy for most of the video because it sounded so familiar. Great choice in music!
A nice video and an interesting topic. BTW one reason why coconuts were less used and "esteemed" in the West Indies is that coconut trees were likely not native to Americas' Eastern coasts and the Caribbean (The Pacific American Coasts had coconuts, however before) until after 1540 when the coconut was brought there by the Europeans to their plantations. There was less culture in how to use these plants as the natives alike had not used them for long. Because of currents and humans coconuts gradually spread from wrecked ships alike and is now practically found everywhere in the Caribbean. While the Caribbean regions has other native palm trees of various kind (many native and endemic species to specific islands even), the palm species that produces coconuts specifically was a European import from West Africa where it had in turn spread from the Indian Ocean. Coconuts originated in Indian Ocean-Pacific area. 🌴🥥🏴☠
What a joy to watch something like this in a circus world time we are now in. The past is perfect but the present tense.
it was a circus back then too, this is an ongoing show. the world is a stage
is that the music from STV?
👍
What bout rikits 🍌🍍🍎🍏🍐🍑🍒🍓🍋🍊🍉🍈🍇🍅🥥🥭
But I don’t like aguacate :/
Wasn't a good idea to watch during lunch
yummy 😋😋
😋
first, arrgh
Like most everything else , the Native Americans taught the Europeans about scurvy and vitamin c.
no, they did not