| When people think about the history of | | | | to lure in ships just so that they would |
| the Bahamas, they think of Christopher | | | | sink and the treasure would be raided. |
| Columbus landing there and claiming it | | | | Nassau was run by pirates for almost 40 |
| for Spain in the late 1400s. This is | | | | years. They love to raid the Spanish |
| entirely true. But the Bahamas also had | | | | galleons. It had gotten so bad that |
| an ancient civilization that dates back | | | | Spanish troops destroyed Nassau in hopes |
| as early as 300-400 AD, which may have | | | | of ending the piracy in 1695. It didn't |
| come from Cuba and counted on the ocean | | | | work, after a couple of years it was |
| for their food. This has been | | | | rebuilt. It was the pirates and |
| discovered by recent archaeological digs | | | | privateers goal to make it the |
| on the islands. Later an advanced | | | | privateering capitol, but because the |
| civilization for their time settled on | | | | pirates kept raiding the French and |
| the Bahama Islands. They were the | | | | Spanish ships the two navies |
| Lucayan Indians. In the 10th century | | | | collaborated and wiped out Nassau for a |
| the Lucayans left their home in the | | | | second time in 1703. However, the |
| Lesser Antilles to escape their enemies. | | | | pirates were like a bad penny. They |
| The Carib Indians were fierce warriors | | | | kept turning up. It was too easy for |
| and were also cannibals but the Lucayans | | | | them to loot passing cargo ships and it |
| were peaceful people and were farmers. | | | | wasn't long before Nassau was again |
| Lucayans were very advanced in politics | | | | rebuilt.In 1718 the King of England, |
| and religion. They used tools and lived | | | | tired of complaints of piracy, appointed |
| in thatched homes. The Lucayans were a | | | | Woodes Rogers as Royal Governor of the |
| thriving colony of 40,000 when | | | | islands and asked him to restore order. |
| Christopher Columbus landed. It was | | | | He offered amnesty to those who |
| then decided that these gentle people | | | | surrendered. The ones who didn't would |
| would be enslaved to work in mines and | | | | be sentenced to death. There was a very |
| it only took 25 years for the entire | | | | brief battle with his four battleships |
| Lucayan people to be wiped out | | | | and about 300 pirates gave in and the |
| completely. The tribe suffered from | | | | rest fled.After more than 100 years, a |
| foreign diseases, slavery and | | | | fresh stream of colonists arrived from |
| hardship.Eleutheran Adventurers helped | | | | America. With them they brought skills |
| give the island its name: Eleuthera. | | | | for farming and shipbuilding. They also |
| Eleutheran Adventurers were a group of | | | | brought their slaves. In 1783 the |
| English Puritans seeking religious | | | | people, along with South Carolina |
| freedom. What they found was hardship | | | | militia, forced Spanish troops back |
| and the fact that they were not prepared | | | | without a single shot being fired. This |
| to survive successfully on the island. | | | | in turned gave them their |
| They later separated into other | | | | independence.During the U.S. Civil War |
| communities at what now are Governor's | | | | there was another boost in economy. The |
| Harbour and Preacher's Cave. After | | | | British favored the south because it |
| their leader Captain William Sayles | | | | needed the cotton for their textile |
| returned from the American colonies with | | | | industry. However it couldn't get |
| supplies they were better able to defend | | | | through the port because of the Union |
| their outpost from the Spanish.The | | | | blockade. Then came the blockade |
| Bahamas continues with their exciting | | | | runners. With their fast ships they |
| history. After a while the pirates came | | | | would take the southern cotton and meet |
| along. This was called the Age of | | | | up with British ship and trade goods. |
| Piracy. It was during the late 1600s to | | | | They in turn would return to the U.S. |
| early 1700s. Lots of famous pirates | | | | and sell their goods for huge profits. |
| that just about everyone has heard of | | | | After the war though the economy sank |
| used the Bahamas to live, store or bury | | | | again.Then came 1919 when the U.S. |
| their "booty" or treasure. Pirates like | | | | passed the 14th amendment prohibiting |
| Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Sir Henry | | | | alcohol. That's when smuggling started |
| Morgan. There were even two famous | | | | happening and again another boost in the |
| women who dressed as men and were | | | | economy. Then prohibition was lifted in |
| pirates. They were Anne Bonny and Mary | | | | 1934 and with that and the collapse of |
| Read. They both sailed under Calico | | | | sponge harvesting, the Bahamas got a |
| Jack. At the end of the piracy era Mary | | | | double whammy and the economy plummeted. |
| died in a prison cell and after Anne | | | | Things really turned around for them |
| gave birth to a son, she disappeared | | | | when in 1961 Cuba closed its doors to |
| never to be seen again.Nassau was the | | | | the United States. In turn tourism |
| perfect place for the pirates and | | | | picked up there. Especially because |
| privateers to settle. It was a | | | | they were so close to the U.S. and they |
| commercial port been was overran by | | | | had beautiful beaches to offer. Now the |
| lawless, pirates and privateers. | | | | Bahamas are thriving and they became |
| "Wreckers", were also in Nassau. | | | | their own nation on July 10th 1973. |
| Wreckers would build false lighthouses | | | | |