Images

A map illustrating the rise of Spain into a global colonial and trading power following the European Age of Exploration of the 15th Century.

A model of a brigantine ship. With two masts which were traditionally gaf-rigged and lateen-rigged, the ship was fast and highly manoeuvrable, making the brigantine a favourite ship of pirates. (Deutsches Museum, Munich)

The Jolly Roger, a flag used by pirates and first documented c. 1700. The term 'Jolly Roger' actually referred to any design of pirate flag using macabre imagery. These flags were designed to instill terror into victims and bring immediate...

Goddess Green Tara seated with hand in a gesture of gift-giving (Varadamudra), gilt bronze with red pigment and gemstones, Southern Tibet, 14th century. The Art of Institute Chicago.

The Buddist goddess Tara, gold and silver figure from Java, 9th century. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland.

White Tara and Green Tara, distemper on cloth painting, 1450-1500, Guge, Western Tibet. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Hindu-Buddhist goddess Tara, 15-16th century. Ganga State Museum, Bikaner, India.

Statue of the goddess Tara. Bihar, 10th century. Indian Museum, Calcutta

Tarapith Temple, Birbhum district, India.

Famine, the third Horseman of the Apocalypse as depicted on the Apocalypse Tapestry, commissioned by Louis I, the Duke of Anjou, and woven in Paris between 1377 and 1382. Musée de la Tapisserie, Château d'Angers, Angers