Islam vs Europe .. a long history of Islamic violence towards Europe
Europe's Forgotten Terror - The Pirates Who Enslaved a Million People
Jun 19, 2026
The History Squadcast
Who were the Barbary Pirates? For over 300 years, the Barbary Pirates terrorized coastal Europe — striking as far north as Iceland and as close to home as Ireland, England, Spain, and Italy. Men, women, and children vanished from beaches in the dead of night. Some estimates suggest more than a million Europeans were captured and sold into slavery. Yet today, few people are aware of this forgotten slave trade.In this documentary, join Kevin Hicks as he uncovers who the Barbary Pirates really were, how they built a slave-trading empire that the most powerful nations of the time struggled to stop.
This documentary, presented by
Kevin Hicks of
The History Squad, explores the forgotten history of the
Barbary Pirates (also known as
Corsairs), who terrorized coastal European communities for over 300 years.
Key Themes of the Documentary:
- Who were the Barbary Pirates? (0:38 - 1:49) Originating from North African ports like Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, and Morocco, these pirates began as independent raiders but later became organized, state-sponsored entities, particularly after the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.
- The Slave Trade: (1:50 - 3:00) The primary objective of these raids was not just cargo, but capturing human beings to sell into slavery. An estimated one million Europeans were enslaved over three centuries.
- The Baltimore Raid: (3:06 - 8:58) A detailed account of the 1631 attack on Baltimore, Ireland, where hundreds of villagers were captured, highlighting the brutal nature of these raids and the bleak fate that awaited captives as galley slaves, laborers, or domestic servants.
- Tactics and Technology: (9:00 - 12:00) The pirates utilized shallow-drafted vessels like galleys and xebecs, which allowed them to navigate coastal inlets and rivers far from the reach of traditional navies. They also maintained a sophisticated intelligence network to identify targets.
- Notable Figures: (20:50 - 27:00) The documentary discusses figures such as the renegade English pirate John Ward (Jack Ward) and the harrowing survival stories of individuals like Thomas Pellow and Elizabeth Marsh.
- The End of Piracy: (28:00 - 29:30) While European nations and the newly independent United States often paid protection money (tribute) to ensure safety, the era of Barbary piracy effectively ended with the French invasion of Algeria in the early 19th century.
This video sheds light on a dark, often overlooked chapter of history where coastal communities across Europe—and as far north as
Iceland—lived in constant fear of being abducted and sold.