Caribbean, 1704 -- Hispaniola

Pirates had a democratic system centuries before most nations. Crews voted on their captain and could remove him at any time.

Hispaniola was the first European settlement in the Americas. Columbus founded La Navidad here in 1492 using wood from his wrecked ship.

Pirates wore earrings not just for style -- they believed the pressure on the earlobe prevented seasickness. It did not work.

The Spanish treasure fleets carried so much silver from the Americas that they caused massive inflation across Europe for over a century.

Pirate ships had surprisingly good healthcare. Crew members who lost a limb in battle received extra compensation from the shared loot.

Port Royal, Jamaica was called the wickedest city on Earth. In 1692, an earthquake sank two-thirds of it into the sea in minutes.

Caribbean sugar was so valuable in the 1700s that some European nations considered trading entire colonies in Canada for a single sugar island.

The Jolly Roger flag was not meant to terrify -- it was a negotiation tool. It meant: surrender now and we will spare your lives.