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Scotland's History and Sources

Academic Establishments for Scottish History      Scottish History on the BBC      Government Sources for Scottish History      Associations and Nonprofit Organizations for Scottish History      The Picts      The Romans      Other Sources for Scottish History      Scots Overseas

This page links you to sites that provide information on the history of Scotland.  Some of these sites have only snippets of history, some give you broad surveys, and some have extensive and in-depth historical information.

New items this week under topics marked

Academic Establishments for Scottish History

You'll find the National Museums of Scotland is a striking new landmark in Edinburgh's historic Old Town.  It presents for the first time the history of Scotland - its land, its people and their achievements.  The stunning series of galleries take you from Scotland's geological beginnings through time to the twentieth century.  The site provides descriptions of the galleries with text and pictures.

The Classical Association of Scotland - "The Association, founded in 1902, acts as a focus for classical studies in Scotland in general, and in particular within three of the older Scottish universities (in chronological order, St Andrews, Glasgow, Edinburgh).  Please explore the links to information on our site and use the contact page to contribute news or ask for further information."

The History Page of the Institute for Historical Research has the aim of promoting the use of electronic networks by historians and history students and providing easy access to on-line resources.  In addition to the evaluation and cataloguing of on-line resources in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, History Page provides high quality information about the history profession including books, articles, theses, seminars and historians (searchable on-Line).

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Scottish History on the BBC

BBC - Scottish History has interesting features that include

• On this Day - Click today's month in the calendar to see more facts for the current day.  Within each month you may also select a day.
• Scotland on Film:  Take a trip back in time and witness 20th Century Scottish life, with our evocative collection of clips from film, television and radio.  You can leave your own memories and share your thoughts of life in Scotland on the forum and, if you're new to the website, why not read our guide to help you through?

Scotland's Black History, Radio Scotland - This page briefly describes the programs titled Scotland's Black History which aired on the BBC during the week of 4 July 2005.  Topics covered are Scotland's contacts with Africa and people of African origin:

• from Roman times through to the slave trade, from colonial plantations to religious missions.
• from Roman times through to the slave trade and the sugar plantations of Jamaica.
• from Roman times through to the slave trade, and the colonial plantations of the American South.
• travelling to Malawi to examine the contribution made to the country by Presbyterian missionaries.

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Government Sources for Scottish History

Historic Scotland safeguards the nation's built heritage and promotes its understanding and enjoyment on behalf of Scottish Ministers.  In our web site you can find information on more than 300 properties in our care and Scotland's listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments.  We also have resources for schools and details on technical conservation and research.   ...  Historic Scotland cares for historic attractions across Scotland spanning over 5,000 years of Scotland's history and culture.  These include pre-historic standing stones, medieval abbeys, gardens, palaces, lighthouses, cathedrals, and magnificent castles.  Historic Scotland is also online in Gaelic.

The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (RPS), produced by the Scottish Parliament Project under the general editorship of Professor Keith M. Brown at the University of St Andrews, is a new digital edition of the acts of the pre-1707 Scottish Parliament.  The culmination of nearly ten years' work and exceeding in length 16,000,000 words, the new edition is amongst the most accessible and technologically advanced record of any European medieval or early modern representative institution.  Taking as its basis the original manuscript sources, the inclusion of new parliaments, committee records, parliamentary minutes and additional material makes the forthcoming edition the most comprehensive record of Scottish parliamentary proceedings ever available - a complete record of the Scottish Parliament from its origins to the union of 1707.  ...  Publication of the online resource is expected in late 2007.  If you would like to be kept up-to-date on project news, including date of actual publication, please enter your email address below to subscribe to the project's mailing list (i.e., on the Web site)

The British Army has a path to information about military museums, including those relative to Scotland.

The Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England (PASE) is an online publication based on a database register of persons, locations, events, and other topics.  It includes, in principle, every recorded individual who lived in, or was closely connected with, Anglo-Saxon England from 597 to 1042.  Some informatino about Scotland may be found there (e.g., King Malcolm).  [The Capital Scot looked up the word: Prosopography 'is the investigation of the common background characteristics of a group of actors in history by means of a collective study of their lives.  The method employed is to establish a universe to be studied, and then to ask a set of uniform questions - about birth and death, marriage and family, social origins and inherited economic position, place of residence, education, amount and source of personal wealth, occupation, religion, experience of office and so on.  The various types of information about the individuals in the universe are then juxtaposed and combined, and are examined for significant variables.  They are tested both for internal correlations and for correlations with other forms of behaviour or action.']

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Associations and Nonprofit Organizations for Scottish History

The Carved Stones Adviser Project supports the recording and conservation of Scotland's historic graveyards.  Graveyards represent one of the nation's most tangible links to its past.  Although burial grounds are a familiar part of our historic landscape, surprisingly little is known about the range of burial sites which survive, the sorts of gravestones and features they contain, and how well this important resource is faring against the effects of time and the elements.  The Carved Stones Adviser project unites cemetery professionals, heritage specialists, community groups, and individual members of the public to work collectively to safeguard the future of Scotland's historic graveyards.  Contact the Carved Stones Adviser to learn about graveyard conservation projects taking place in your community.  See also the National Committee on Carved Stones in Scotland for some key points for caring for graveyards and gravestones.  For more information see the Carved Stones Adviser Project.  The NCCSS supports the Carved Stones Adviser project based at the Council for Scottish Archaeology.  This initiative unites cemetery professionals, heritage specialists, community groups, and individual members of the public to work collectively to safeguard the future of ScotlandÕs historic graveyards.

The Scottish Archive network - a project to bring all Scottish archives on-line.  Through the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) it is opening up Scotland's rich archival heritage to everyone.  Over the course of the three-year project it will revolutionize access to Scottish Archives, their catalogues and contents.  Their main aims are:

• To link archives large and small, public and private, throughout Scotland.
• To create a unique knowledge base on Scottish history and culture.
• To make a major historical resource, the wills, available to researchers world-wide.
• To be accessible to everyone across the Internet For more detailed information, follow the links in the left-hand menu.  These facilities are being developed at the moment - explore the site to find out more about our services.

The Scottish Military Historical Society presents its Journal for Scottish Military History and Regiments online.  There are links to articles from the Dispatch, the printed journal of the society, and to many other topics of military historical interest.

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The Picts

The site Early Medieval Britain and Ireland presents an informative article The Picts The Picti were first referred to in AD 297 by Eumenius. The meaning of the term is uncertain although many texts interpret it as 'the painted ones'.  The term describes all the inhabitants north of the Forth-Clyde isthmus.  The site addresses numerous topics including Pictish symbols, Pictish language, Matrilinear succession, The 'Foul Hordes Paradigm' (barbarism), the lack of Pictish documents, the Picts as a 'lost people'.

There are several versions of the Pictish Chronicle.  This the so-called `A' text, which is probably the oldest, and also the fullest. It also seems to have fewer errors than other versions. The manuscript provides an account of the origins of the Picts, a list of Pictish kings from the earliest times up until the conquest by Kenneth Mac Alpin in the 9th Century, and a list of kings of the combined kingdom of Picts and Scots until the reign of Kenneth II (971-995), with some notes about events during each reign.  The manuscript is provided in both Latin and English.  The site's author has added some notes to explain the text and also added additional information about some of the kings, notably dates, mostly derived from Irish sources.  There is a bibliography and a list of links to other sites with related information.

The Pictish Nation:  I want to create the world's first page dedicated to that ancient race known as the Picts whom once inhabited present day Scotland. ... I recommend joining the Pictish Arts Society, which is truly the world's finest organization dedicated to preserving and expanding interest in Pictish culture. ... I will also try to create links to artists who work in a Pictish genre and also where you can find them.

Scottish History Online & Pictish Pages.  The author hopes to open up his own interests in the Picts and Scots History to everyone.  The rich culture of Aberdeenshire has inspired his interest in the Pict's and Scots History.  Living in what is regarded as the "Heartland of the Picts", which supports over 70 of the 200 carved stones and slabs known, 90 Recumbent Stone Circles, and numerous Burial Cairns, gives a local resident easy access to these Neolithic sites which date back over 4,000 years.

See also:

• Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scots and Picts.  This site has links to other historical facts not necessarily related to Scotland.
   
• The Disappearance of the Picts.  This site has links to other historical facts not necessarily related to Scotland.
   
• The Disappearance of the Picts.  This site has links to other historical facts not necessarily related to Scotland.
   
• Perthshire - Ancient Times has a brief history of that area from 3000 BC to the 13th Century AD.
   
• Angus: An Ancient Pictish Centre.
   
• A Consideration Of Pictish Names.  This is part of a larger site, Scottish Name Resources.
   
• A Pict Song by Rudyard Kipling.
   
• The Aberdeenshire Council site Sites to Visit for a lot of information on stone circles, henges, Pictish symbol stones, round cairns and other burial mounds, and much more.
   
• Catriona Fraser's Pictish Stones and Stone Circles of Scotland.
   
• Neolithic, Bronze Age and Pictish Sites of North East Scotland.

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The Romans

Gask Ridge Roman Frontier, Gask Ridge, Perthshire:  The Gask Ridge frontier system is the earliest Roman land frontier in Britain, built in the 70s or 80's AD, 40 years before Hadrian's Wall and 60 years before the Antonine Wall.

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Other Sources for Scottish History

Scotland History is intended to be an all inclusive resource for lovers of Scottish history and culture.  Within you will find information on specific topics such as religion in Scotland, Scottish royalty, and famous Scottish battles, along with suggested reading material and other media regarding each topic.

A Timeline of Scottish History contains over 700 precisely dated events from Scottish history of the last 2,000 years.  The events are organized by month and by date range (i.e., Before 1600, 1600 to 1899, and 1900 to 2000)

Lost Tribe Genealogy has a page with a chronology of the Kings of Scotland

At Medieval Scotland you will find articles and links to information about pre-1600 Scottish names, Highland clothing, and Scottish literature.  There is also a bibliography listing various good history books and articles (including some about Scottish marriage and handfasting).  Medieval Scotland"is a collection of articles and resources aimed at anyone interested in Scotland between A.D. 500 and 1603, from about when the King of Dál Riata moved from Ireland to Argyll to when King James VI of Scots inherited the English throne.  Because medieval Scotland was not isolated from its surroundings in either space or time, there are also some articles concerning related regions and the focus time span is somewhat flexible."

The Catholic Encyclopedia History of Scotland - The history of Scotland is discussed chiefly in its ecclesiastical aspect in three divisions: I) The conversion of the country and the prevalence of the Celtic monastic church; II) The gradual introduction and, consolidation of the diocesan system, and the history of Scottish Catholicism down to the religious revolution of the sixteenth century; III) The post-Reformation history of the country, particularly in connection with the persecuted remnant of Catholics, and IV) the religious revival of the nineteenth century.
Historic Catholic Sites in the Highlands and the North East of Scotland - Because the pre-Reformation churches had all been taken over or destroyed, the faithful had to worship in houses, barns, or even at Mass stones out of doors, and the few new buildings that they erected were small, usually remote, and deliberately hidden away.  But it is these very qualities that are most striking, and express most powerfully the faith, hope, and love of those who worshipped there.  They tell a story of struggle against the odds, which is a part of the story of Christianity in Scotland and a part of national heritage, and we can all - of whatever faith or none - admire them for that.  [This site] gives brief details of some of the surviving mainland sites, set out as a Heritage Trail, which could be followed in full or picked up at any point.  All but one are open to the public, and all but four are quite accessible from the road.

Check out the Highland Clearances http://www.theclearances.org/, a site with "stories from the Highland Clearances, their aftermath and consequences.  There is no shortage of literature on the subject but most of it concentrates on the what and the why.  This site is more concerned with the who ....."  See also Highland Clearances at the (UK) National Archives.

Stones of Wonder is a Web guidebook to prehistoric monuments in Scotland (dating to the Neolithic or the Bronze Age) which have orientations to the sun, moon or stars.  It gives the background to the archaeology of the sites, to archaeoastronomy and to the previous work which has been done.  The main part of the guidebook is a listing of the monuments which can be visited, and the best time of year to see them and observe for yourself the sunrises, sunsets, moon rises and moon sets.  The work is based on original surveys, of which full details are given.

Save Archaeolink Petition, Aberdeenshire Scotland - Sign the petition to save the future of Archeolink Prehistory Park, Oyne, Insch, Aberdeenshire Scotland from closure.  The Archaeolink Prehistory Visitor Centre at Oyne, Insch, Aberdeenshire gives a wonderful insight into the regions Prehistoric, Pictish and Celtic past.

Discover historical calligraphy from Roman through early modern times.

Roman Britain for other articles about Scotland during the time of the Roman occupation.

Scotland in the Dark Age c.400-1060, from Manchester University Press, is an online book of itself that provides a lot of information, with maps, about the Scotti and the Scots, the Romans and Picts, early kingdoms and the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom, and Influential leaders from 924 to William the conqueror (1066 and later).  As the Roman empire began to collapse, its political and military presence was finally withdrawn from the island of Britain around 410 AD.  The resulting vacuum was filled by tribes of Jutes, Saxons, Frisians and Angles from Denmark, Germany and the coastal areas of what is now Holland, competing for land and power with the indigenous Britons (the term 'Saxons' is used, generically, to denote any or all of these invading tribes from northern Europe).

How Modern Life Emerged from Eighteenth-Century Edinburgh (The Enlightenment).  This was an article in the 10/11/04 issue of the New Yorker by David Denby.  On January 8, 1697, at some time between two and four in the afternoon, an eighteen-year-old student named Thomas Aikenhead was hanged in Edinburgh. ... Aikenhead declared that he had come to doubt the objectivity of good and evil, and that he believed moral laws to be the work of governments or men.  His disastrous misstep Ñ the joshing blasphemies about Christianity Ñ point toward the anti-Christian side of the French Enlightenment, toward VoltaireÕs suave pagan ironies and sarcasms.  The studentÕs last statement Ñ that moral laws are the work of governments and men Ñ is one of the assumptions behind the American Revolution.  The remark anticipates, as well, the British liberalism of the nineteenth century and the enduring work, and enduring trial, of modernity.

History of Ancient Scotland contains articles that include:  mysterious ancestors, birth of a nation, impact of the monk, wars of independence, and topics of later history.

The Border Reivers - This site provides a wide range of information relating to Border history, and covers all the Border regions, English as well as Scottish.  Besides the activities of the Border Reivers, the site contains information on Border warfare during that eventful period, and also something of the lives of the people.

The Highlander Magazine page on Culloden [Capital Scot advisory: This external site may feature facts of a nature which may not be suitable for youthful readers.]

History of Leith a local historian from Leith who has studied Leiths history for many years.  We are always keen to receive new articles whether you have a special area of Leith knowledge or whether you wish to tell us about your life in Leith.  Please contact us with any story ideas or articles that have been written. ... This site is paid for out of our own pockets with some revenue coming from adverts hosted on the site keeping the sites content free to our visitors.

Orkney history, tradition and folklore

A history of Scotland on-line is a rare combination of extensive articles on the nation's history coupled with links to information about contempporary Scotland.

Robert the Bruce - a specialty page of The Capital Scot ®

Scottish Legends has links to legends, wit, music, and topics of historical interest.

Visit the Scottish history tour.  According to the author, this is a continual work in progress.  The pages contain links and information on many things Scottish - everything from history to politics.  The focus of these pages is on essays and articles on Scottish history covering various periods and topics.  A comprehensive reading list is also included with links to the booksellers' websites.

Scottish History has articles about diverse topics pertaining to the nation's history.  [Capital Scot advisory: This site is rich in Java and sound.]

The Great Potato Famine has numerous articles about potatoes and the history of the famine.

Edwin Muir, Poet, Critic, and Translator was born before the Industrial Revolution, and am now about two hundred years old.  But I have skipped a hundred and fifty of them.  I was really born on 1737 and till I was fourteen no time-accidents happened to me.  Then in 1751 I set out from Orkney for Glasgow.  When I arrived I found that it was not 1751, but 1901, and that a hundred and fifty years had been burned up in my two day's journey.  But I myself was still in 1751, and remained there for a long time.  All my life since I have been trying to overhaul that invisible leeway.  No wonder I am obsessed with Time.

Tayside, on the East Coast of Scotland, has a rich maritime heritage.  Trade with Baltic ports goes back five centuries and the port records of Dundee are some of the oldest in Europe.  Tayside A Maritime History, is a virtual museum telling these and many other stories of Tayside's maritime past.  The website contains many historical notes and images, interactive maps, online tours, and a growing database of mariner and voyage records.  Tayside has produced its share of naval heroes for both British and foreign navies.  Find out more

The Editor of Scottish History for SCOTWEB in Scotland recommends both his own personal Scottish history pages and those of SCOTWEB.  Skye's Scottish and Medieval History WebSite features Scottish History, Medieval History, Celtic History, Scottish Battles and Wars of England and Scotland.  Original historic articles are updated monthly.  Particularly interesting and useful is a timeline [Capital Scot advisory: Page still being updated on 8/14/05.] with an overview of Scottish history from ancient times.

Visit Historic Scotland for links to information about places of historic interest.  The editor of the site would like to receive any photographs you may have of any of the properties shown there.  If readers think they have better pictures than Historic Scotland or have a picture where the site does not, then e-mail them to the editor in .jpg format.

All about Scotland http://www.scotlandsource.com/about/home.htm - "On this site you will be able to get an amazing insight into what the country of Scotland has to offer, the birth of a nation, and a vast historical look from the birth, through the Iron age, Normans, Vikings and upto the present time."

James Hepburn, Fourth Earl of Bothwell OK, so he was a womaniser, he was ambitious, and he had his own way of going about things - none of which is a crime.  He was also loyal to a fault, honest and un-bribable.  All of which meant that he was a thorn in the side of the Scottish nobles of the day.  Which is probably why history has judged him so harshly - the words of said nobles have been taken at face value, without a lot of thought on the facts.  Did Bothwell kill Darnley?  NO.  Did he rape Mary Stuart?  NO.  Was he a coward, who fled from battle at Carberry Hill?  NO!  Read on, and find out the truth.

Caledonia Highlanders - In the late 1700's a number of Scottish families emigrated to America from Scotland.  Determined to farm in new America they traveled by foot some 200 miles from Johnstown, N.Y. and founded towns like, Inverness, York, Fowlerville and Caledonia in New York.  Many of their descendents traveled west as America expanded.  These are the families of the original Scottish highlanders that settled the Caledonia area and a chronology of westward expansion.

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Scots Overseas

North America

Scottish People of Alberta - The first attempts to entice Scottish settlers to Canada began as early as 1622, when Sir William Alexander obtained permission from King James I to establish new Scotland or Nova Scotia.  Unfortunately, his colonization efforts failed, and only a small number of Scottish families settled in Canada prior to the conquest of New France in 1759.  Those who did make a home on Canadian soil were mainly Roman Catholic Highlanders who sought political and religious asylum following the failed Jacobite uprisings in Scotland in 1715 and 1745.

Canadian History in Scotland - "... hundreds of Orcadians and inhabitants from Lewis emigrated to Canada to work in the fur trade, specifically with the Hudson's Bay Company.  In the late 18th century ... "

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