Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean Kindle Edition

Super interesting history of the Sephardic Jews and what happened to them after the expulsion from Spain in 1492. It reads more like a history book rather than a story. There wasn't really that much mention of pirates. More a story of the merchant enterprises and how the whims of politics played against the Sephardic Jews forcing them out of Spain and casting them out of Europe.If you are interested in history and how the New World was divided up between the Spanish, the Dutch, and the English, with no thought to the wishes of the aboriginal inhabitants, this book explains a lot. It is also one of the few books that speaks of the white slaves that were brought from Europe to work the sugar cane plantations in the West Indies, along with the black slaves. The white slaves have mostly been forgotten by historians. So it was refreshing to see their story told as well.

The Brotherhood ...was really set to protect ,defend and sucüre Those Jews (and "Portugese" )escaping from the Spanish (and Portugese) Inquisition.Yet this work tells more of that time and of those who acted (even as double-agents )against the plans of the bloody -Inquisition. Even Christopher Columbus who sought honorable relations with Indiginous Peoples ...was betrayed in his efforts and his life by scheming subordinates who were loyal to Spanish interests.It is an interesting historical footnote that even though Admiral Columbus established the only place on Earth where the Inquisition was forbidden to set foot,many in South America blame him for the actions of those who were actually his enemies.This work is unique and carefully documented about a time that is much overlooked.It has also been misquoted on some sites ...on the Internet.

"In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue" that trite old rhyme goes. Some other things were going on that terrible year. In 1492 Their Most Catholic Majesties of Castile and Leon also threw out the Jews from their kingdom after they'd lived there since the late Romans held Hispania. And so, as the Jews left for less hostile places some went to the Barbary Coast, the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands and... the New World. Fascinating reading

You’ll love this book! I saw the title and I was hooked . How could this be , it’s amazing and at first I thought noreally but now I’m a believer that this actually could be somewhat factual . It’s intriguing while being interesting and so Captivating. I think it’s possible! We actually visit the island quite a bit and have always heard that there was a Jewish temple not too far from Mobay as it’s affectionately referred to . I know for a fact that one side of the island of Montego bay actually has blond haired blue eyed people and a temple. How’d they get there if this wasn’t so?

I really enjoyed the book. There is a lot of information in the book about Jews participating in the New World discovery. It really brings to light a part of history that is rarely talked about. While the story of the Conversos is known it's still rather obscure. So many people conversos have only discovered their heritage in the past half century or past century.My only problem with the book is that I got lost sometimes in the information. At times the book served as a Jewish "Who's Who." I lost the over all narrative at different points.There is a part of me however that wants to be an adventurer or treasure hunter. I want to go find Christopher Columbus's gold mine!

I read this book and was greatly surprised about how the Sephardic jews were able to overcome great oppression in Spain and Portugal to establish a mercantile empire around the world. They were able to overcome the antisemitism of the British and worked with the Dutch to also become privateers. As the book says it took them about 15 years to defeat the the Spanish who burned 100,000 of their kin. All because of a difference of belief. I was able to visit a few of the synagogues in the Caribbean especially in Curacao. It was very impressive. There is also information about the founding of Port Royal, a great pirate town and the search for the legendary gold mine of Columbus. It is interesting to note that the Columbus family who owned Jamaica refused to allow the inquisition to step foot on that island and thus gave safety to the Jews. Read it and learn.

I started reading this on a flight to Jamaica to do archival research on the early European history of the island and couldn't put it down. It proved to be fascinating and gave me a new appreciation for the material I was studying, although it might not be as compelling for the casual reader. The title is misleading however. This book is a history of the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal and their subsequent influence on the New World, particularly the financing of commerce and privateering. Many Jewish merchants fled to Holland in particular, stimulating commerce there, and helping Holland become the center of trade in the "Atlantic system." Much of the story centers on Jamaica, which is entirely appropriate as Jewish merchants capitalized pirates out of Port Royal, the center of piracy in the late 17th century. The author was a long-time resident of Jamaica. He was obviously an amateur historian and an ardent Jew, and this book was clearly a labor of love or obsession for him, so it comes across as one-sided and over-reaching. Nonetheless, the role of Jews in the early European history of the Caribbean was clearly greater than is commonly recognized.

Overall, a fascinating chronological history to explain the Jewish diaspora.Not only TO the Caribbean, but FROM the nations persecuting them.Also, the rationale for their being grudgingly accepted for a while as traders.Inclusion in a society seems to work only so long as you are perceived to be needed.But, if not, then watch out.Hitler was only part of a long line of oppressors including the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Ostensibly, this book is about Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean. In fact, it is no such thing. It is a very interesting overview of the Jewish contribution and experience of the settling of the Americas including their interaction with the rulers of Spain, Portugal, benevolence and England. However in terms of actual Jewish pirates, yes, some more mentioned, but you learn very little of what they actually did.The book is also marred by some annoying errors. The author perpetuate the myth that in the Middle Ages, people thought the world was flat. They did not this is an 18th or 19th century invention. The church and most people have thought about it new pacifically well but the world was a globe, and have known this for centuries. He claims that Sultan Suleiman I of the Ottoman empire referred to himself as ‘the Magnificent’. He did not, this is a western appellation. In Turkish he is known as Suleiman the Lawgiver. The author also claims that Crystal Jews and Muslims were both seen by Christians as heretics. Again, from Muslims are not heretics, they are, from a Christian perspective, infidels.So while this is an interesting book, the title gives a false impression of its contents, and the author should be more careful with his facts.

History passes down the name of the sponsors of exploration，but the captains and navigators of the ships pass into oblivion. The fact that so many were Sephardic jews walking the tightrope of expulsions from so many kingdoms is a rich vein of history I have seen nowhere else. Few would know that Columbus owner Jamaica and even fewer that it was founded by a dozen sons of Jewish families fleeing the problems in Europe.

Good read.

Interesting book following Spanish Inquisition. I indend to read every chapter.

I enjoyed this very much. Not an easy read, I have to say, but very edifying, and I consider it a worthwhile read.