The Atlantic, eastern Venezuela and its relationship with piracy during the 16th and 17th centuries

Abstract

The objective of this work is to show an approximation of how the dynamics of the Atlantic impacted Venezuela during the 16th and 17th centuries. Understanding that this ocean functions as a communicating ship of links through which different territories transmit our thoughts and cultures, functioning as well as a mechanism for the various European empires to lengthen their territorial possessions and where they resolve their international disputes. The pirates play a fundamental role in these conflicts and as permanent threats to the Spanish empire that sought to dispute or control the commercial losses, sabotage the colonial establishments and learn, through crime, the precious metals that Spain extracted from America. These continuous attacks made Spain to try to fortify by the cities that were established on the coast of Venezuela during the 16th century. These defenses were built at the end of the 17th century.