Students break into small groups and closely examine one of the sources on display with one of the course instructors. Students are encouraged to take photos of the source to refer back to later while completing your course assignments. As you examine the source, consider the following:
Students will:
A selection of materials used in previous visits are available in the gallery below. Some guiding questions specific to each document are included underneath each image.
This map is one of dozens printed and sold in the US after World War II. What ties to history does it try to establish?
Ballads were some of the cheapest ways to spread news, entertainment, and gossip in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. What might a reader (or listener) learn from this song?
Alexander Esquemelin's biographies of pirates contain his observations of their behavior. What characteristics does he give to Roche (or Roc) the Brazilian? The full account is here.
Introduction:
How have pirates been described through the ages, and how have those perceptions changed? UF's Special and Area Studies collections contains a wide range of materials dealing with the history, lore, and punishment of piracy, from printed books made during the period of Atlantic exploration to the portrayals of pirates in film and media.
Specific Learning Outcomes
The QUEST course's Capstone Requirement is for students to prepare an analytical essay contrasting a work of fiction or contemporary culture with historical sources. This course visit introduces students to a range of historical and popular materials on the history of piracy, encourages them to compare primary sources from different places and times, and allows for in-depth, small group discussion of a selection of source materials.
Contact Time: 50 minutes
Class Size: 25 - 50 students per section (Discussion groups of larger class visiting with their TAs)
Class Level: Introductory. The instructors assume no prior knowledge of the materials on display or the handling and use of special collections. Materials should be selected that do not require extensive time to contextualize or a large amount of manipulation.
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