During the 17th century, a period of time known as the Golden Age of Piracy existed within the greater context of the Age of Sail. Imperial forces battled each other on the high seas, and out of the turmoil, a faction of buccaneers sought to make their riches the only way they've ever known: by lootin', tootin' and grabbin' booty. Today we examine the role of piracy in the imperial core by way of examining the life of the pirate Blackbeard.