Did pirates bury treasure, force prisoners to walk the plank, and sail beneath the same black flag? This chapter separates legend from reality to reveal what piracy was truly like in the Atlantic and Caribbean. It explores life aboard ship, maritime attacks, the division of loot, crew agreements, and the differences between pirates, privateers, and buccaneers. It also examines the women who lived outside maritime law and the reasons some sailors chose piracy. A journey into a violent, dangerous, and uncertain world that was very different from the romantic version created by novels, films, and popular culture.