Scottish History For Dummies

Want to discover how a small country on the edge of Northern Europe packs an almighty historical punch? Scottish History For Dummies is your guide to the story of Scotland and its place within the historical narratives of Britain, Europe and the rest of the world. You'll find out how Scotland rose from the ashes to forge its own destiny, understand the impact of Scottish historical figures such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and David Hume and be introduced to the wonderful world of Celtic religion, architecture and monuments.

History can help us make connections with people and events, and it gives us an understanding of why the world is like it is today. Scottish History For Dummies pulls back the curtain on how the story of Scotland has shaped the world far beyond its borders. From its turbulent past to the present day, this informative guide sheds a new and timely light on the story of Scotland and its people.

• Dig into a wealth of fascinating facts on the Stone, Bronze and Iron ages
• Get to know how Scotland was built into an industrial economy by inventors, explorers and missionaries
• Discover the impact of the world wars on Scotland and how the country has responded to challenges created by them
• Find up-to-the-minute information on Scotland's referendum on independence

If you're a lifelong learner looking for a fun, factual exploration of the grand scope of Scotland or a traveler wanting to make the most of your trip to this captivating country, Scottish History For Dummies has you covered.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Scottish History 5

Chapter 1: Welcome to Scotland 7

Chapter 2: From Nomads to Farmers: The Earliest Peoples 13

Chapter 3: Disunited Kingdoms (80–750) 21

Part II: Making the Kingdom (840–1286) 31

Chapter 4: The Kingdom of Alba (840–1040) 33

Chapter 5: Good Kings, Bad Kings and a Saintly Queen (1034–1153) 43

Chapter 6: Peace and Plenty? (1153–1286) 57

Part III: Making the Nation (1286–1542) 69

Chapter 7: The Wars of Independence (1286–1371) 71

Chapter 8: The Foundations of the Stewart Dynasty (1371–1460) 91

Chapter 9: Renaissance Scotland (1460–1542) 109

Part IV: The Unmaking of a Nation (1540–1750) 131

Chapter 10: From Reformation to the Union of the Crowns (1540–1625) 133

Chapter 11: King, Commonwealth and Revolution (1625–1690) 157

Chapter 12: The Unmaking of a Nation (1690–1750) 179

Part V: The Remaking of a Nation (1750–1918) 199

Chapter 13: A Nation in Transition (1750–1832) 201

Chapter 14: The Making of Modern Scotland (1832–1918) 227

Part VI: New Beginnings (1918–2000) 257

Chapter 15: The Devil’s Decades: Politics and Poverty (1918 –1945) 259

Chapter 16: The Rebirth of a Nation (1945–2000) 271

Part VII: The Part of Tens 287

Chapter 17: Ten Great Places to Visit in Scotland 289

Chapter 18: Ten Little-Known Scottish People Who Are Worth Knowing About 295

Chapter 19: Ten Things Scotland Has Given to the World 305

Index 311

"This book is nothing if not comprehensive." (Frost Magazine, August 2014)

William Knox, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer of History at the University of St Andrews, Scotland’s first university.

Learn about:

• The history of Scotland from the Stone Age to today
• The Industrial Revolution and Highland Clearances
• Independence drives through the ages
• World wars and the 20th century

Explore the rich and fascinating history of Scotland

Want to discover how a small country on the edge of northern Europe packs an almighty historical punch? Scottish History For Dummies is your guide to the story of Scotland and her place within the historical narratives of Britain, Europe and the rest of the world. From the Beaker people right up to the present day, it’s all inside.

• Meet the peoples of Scotland – get to know how the peoples who lived through the Stone, Bronze and Iron ages lived, what they ate and how they were viewed by the Romans
• Witness the making of a kingdom – discover how the Kingdom of Alba came to be — thanks largely to the actions of Kenneth MacAlpin, whose Gaels defeated the Picts
• Encounter the superheroes of Scottish history – meet the men whose battles against English domination created the nation of Scotland: William Wallace and Robert the Bruce
• Travel through Great Britain and its Empire – explore the events surrounding the unmaking of Scotland as a nation during the 18th century and how they impacted Scottish national identity
• Explore an industrial economy – pull back the curtain on how Scotland was built into an industrial economy by inventors, explorers and missionaries

Open the book and find:

• The Roman invasion and (near) conquest of Scotland
• Scotland’s politics, languages and religion
• The reigns of William I, Alexander II and Alexander III
• The Wars of Independence
• Scotland during the Renaissance
• Charles I and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
• Industrialisation and the Highland Clearances
• The making of modern Scotland