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Below is a list of events through history
that led to the Scotland seen today.
Early people in remote areas of Scotland
lived on small plots of land known as Croft's,
growing Oats, Potatoes and Kale, their main
food with fish or meat added whenever possible
by hunting or rearing.
Weaving of Linen and Wool for cloth and
tartan clothing was done in the homes on small
manual powered machines. Linen was produced
from the Flax plant.
Shoes or Boots
were made of Leather with names such as Cuaran,
Bog Shoe, Gillie, Heather Hoppers and
Pampootie. Keeping your feet dry in Scotland is
still a challenge today, with Wellington's and
Walking Boots with Yeti Gaiters probably the
best ways.
Horses were used on farms to cultivate and
move crops, with the horses bred over the
centuries to be large powerful animals, with
the Clydesdale being bred in the 1700s, most
famous Scottish horses to this day.
AD 70, the Romans tried to take over
Scotland, building roads and forts around the
country, also the Antonine Wall across central
Scotland between Glasgow, Falkirk and
Edinburgh.
210, the Romans pulled out of Scotland with
Hadrian's Wall built along the south of
Scotland to keep the Scottish tribes out of
England.
858 Kenneth I (MacAlpin) died, king of the
Picts, regarded as the first king of Scots.
Kenneth I founded the Alpin dynasty that ruled
much of Scotland for most of the medieval
period, gradually turning this land of warring
tribes into an organized civilization.
Many of the early Scotland Kings are buried
at Iona
Abbey, with Iona Abbey founded by St
Columba and his Irish followers in AD 563, on
the Isle of Iona, just off the west coast of
Scotland. These kings include Kenneth I and
Macbeth.
1018, King Malcolm II of Scotland won the
Battle of Carham (Northern England) against the
Northern English. This led to the Kingdom of
Scotland’s border with England being
drawn to almost what it is today.
1058, King Malcolm III (Canmore) is king of
Scotland and marries Margaret of Wessex, later
Saint Margaret. They make Dunfermline their capital and begin
the building of Dunfermline Abbey. Their descendants
build Edinburgh Castle,
Stirling Castle and most of the
huge Abbeys from where they began to take
control of all Scotland.
1100s, Coal Mining began in Scotland,
normally shallow mines, although a few were
said to have been fairly deep, over 200
feet.
1263 1st October, King Alexander III
(Canmore) of Scotland defeated the Norwegian
King Haakon at the Battle of Largs. The Vikings
had been plundering the Western Isles and west
coast of Scotland for over 400 years. The
Battle of Largs led to the Vikings being pushed
out of Scotland, western isles, and northern
isles over the following years.
1286, the death of King Alexander III, and
that of his only heir, the four year old
Princess Margaret (Maid of Norway) four years
later, led to the powerfully English King
Edward I (Longshanks) sending his forces into
Scotland to gain control for himself. This was
the end of the Canmore kings.
1292, John Balliol was chosen by the
Scottish Nobles to be their King. Balliol then
tried unsuccessfully to drive the English out
of Scotland. Edward captured and imprisoned
Balliol in the Tower of London. Balliol's
release in 1299 saw him moved to France, where
he lived on his estate there until he died.
1297 11th September, William Wallace lead
about 15,000 Scottish rebels against an English
army, about 50,000 strong, that were on route
to Stirling Castle. Wallace’s victory at
Stirling Bridge saw him rewarded with the title
Guardian of Scotland.
1298, William Wallace’s army was
defeated by a huge English army led by Edward I
at Falkirk. Wallace escaped Falkirk, but was
captured in Glasgow 5th August 1305, and
executed in London 23rd August 1305.
1314 June 23rd, the Scottish army of Robert
the Bruce engaged an English army led by King
Edward II (son of Edward 1 who died in July
1307). This battle was at Bannockburn, close to Stirling
Castle. Bruce’s victory in this three day
battle, led to the English fleeing towards
their remaining strongholds in Scotland or back
across the border. The Scotland / England war
continued for a further 14 years, until the
treaty of Edinburgh was signed on the 17th
March 1328. Bruce then became king of an
independent Scotland. Bruce died at Cardross,
probably from leprosy on the 7th June 1329, he
was buried at Dunfermline Abbey.
1359, Cattle Droving began in Scotland, with
about 300 cattle gathered at a time in north
Scotland to be taken to markets in central and
southern Scotland, the start of the Wild West
in Scotland as Cattle Rustling was common in
those days. Rob Roy MacGregor was the most
famous drover, later rustler, in the early
1700s. Highland Cattle in those days were
normally black, not the red seen today. Cattle
Droving in the US began in the 1830s.
1371, Bruce’s son David II died
without leaving an heir, leading to the
crowning of Robert the Bruce’s grandson
Robert II (Stewart) this starting the house of
Stuart, that would soon rule Scotland and
England.
1488, the disliked King James III (Stuart)
is killed at the battle of Sauchieburn by the
army of his son James, who became King James IV
of Scotland.
1500s, Public Hangings were common in Market
Places, with the last hanging in a prison in
1963. The Maiden Guillotine was used to behead
over 150 High Profile criminals in Edinburgh.
Swords were used for beheadings before this
time.
1513 9th September, the Battle of Flodden
Moor, in Northuberland England, took place
between the armies of James IV (Stuart) of
Scotland, and King Henry VIII (Tudor) of
England. Henry provoked the Scottish attack by
capturing Scottish ships traveling between
Scotland and France. Scotland’s losses in
the battle included the king himself, and many
nobles.
1530s, King Henry VIII of England (Tudor)
encourages England to adopt Protestantism. The
German monk Martin Luther, was stating the
Christian Catholic religion, built around the
Pope in Rome, should be changed. Luther’s
preaching’s split the Christian religion
into Catholic and Protestant. The Protestant
religion was adopted by Henry so English
churches would then send money to him instead
of the Pope. Also, Protestants could get
divorced, and clerics could marry. Many
thousands of British died, or had to emigrate
over the following two century’s,
fighting over religion.
1542, King James V (Stuart) of Scotland,
died only one week after the birth of his only
child Mary. The death of James V, saw Henry
VIII of England send troops into Scotland to
pressure the Scots into having Mary mary his
son Edward. Mary was taken to France for her
safety in 1548. She later married a French
prince and became Queen of France. Following
the death of her husband, and the death of her
mother soon after in 1560, Mary returned to
Scotland to take on the title Mary Queen of
Scots. At this time, Scotland and England were
constantly fighting over the Catholic and
Protestant religions. Catholics from Scotland,
England and France, claimed Queen Elizabeth I
(Tudor) of England since 1558, a protestant,
should be replaced by Mary, who was a catholic
with claims to the English throne, as she was
Margaret Tudor's granddaughter. There were a
number of battles at that time, that only ended
after Mary was captured and imprisoned by
Elizabeth’s forces in 1568. Mary was held
captive until she was executed by beheading in
1587. The death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603
without leaving an heir, led to Mary Queen of
Scots son James VI of Scotland, declared King
of England and Scotland.
1560, the Scottish Parliament passed an Act,
abolishing the Roman Catholic Church in
Scotland, this led to most of the Cathedrals
and Abbey's in Scotland being destroyed. Much
of their stonework was then used for the
construction of other buildings.
1563, the Witchcraft Act was passed leading
to over 4,000 people in Scotland being
prosecuted, most being women, with around 1,500
burned alive. Most people accused of Witchcraft
were just normal people, with neighbour's who
disliked them, so a good way to get rid of a
neighbour, accuse them of being involved in
Witchcraft. Janet Horne from Dornoch in the far
northeast of Scotland was the last person to be
executed in 1727, covered in Tar then Burned
Alive.
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1610, the first Stagecoaches began running
in Scotland, soon taking Passengers and Mail.
Remote areas Mail was delivered by Horse
Riders. This being 250 years before the first
Pony Express in the US in 1860.
1642, Charles I (Stuart) of England &
Scotland, is so unpopular, England ends up in a
Civil War. Forcing a new prayer book on the
Scots, and having little regard for the English
Parliament, led to the war. The
parliamentarians (Roundheads) led by Oliver
Cromwell, finally defeated the Monarchy
(Cavaliers) in 1649, Charles was sentenced to
death and beheaded soon after. This allowed
Cromwell to rule England & Scotland as Lord
Protector until he died in 1658. The death of
Cromwell’s son in 1659, led to the
Stuart’s returning to the throne.
1707, Queen Anne (Stuart) manages to set up
the Union of the parliaments of Scotland and
England. The parliaments then become the
Parliament of Great Britain. Scotland merchants
were then free to trade with America and the
West Indies, that had been mainly controlled by
England until that time. Sugar, tobacco and
slavery made many Scottish merchants rich,
leading to Scotland's towns and cities growing
dramatically from that time, with impressive
Georgian and Victorian buildings being built
all over Scotland from the mid 1700s till the
early 1900s. Much of the historic architecture
found in Scotland's towns and cities today, was
built during this time.
1714, the death of Queen Anne (Stuart) a
Protestant, without leaving an heir, lead to
George I (Hanover) becoming king of Great
Britain. This was requested by Queen Anne to
prevent her exiled Catholic brother in France,
James the old Pretender, from becoming King.
Britain was mainly Protestant at the time and
their long running enemy France Catholic, so
the British wanted to prevent a Catholic King
that could sell out to France. George was the
Protestant son of the Electress Sophia of
Hanover /Germany, a granddaughter of King James
I of England. As George was a German, the
Stuart’s disputed his right to be
King.
1715, the sixth Earl of Mar (John Erskin)
raised an army for James Francis Stuart (the
Old Pretender) and joined up with English
forces that also wanted King George I
overthrown. That uprising was defeated by
Hanoverian supporters, and became known as the
first Jacobite Rising.
1720s, Military Roads were built throughout
Scotland connecting Government Forts to try and
keep Scotland under control, these roads being
made of flat stones, slow to move Carriages
over. These roads were also used by locals to
travel around, many still used today with tar
on top.
1746 April 16th, the Battle of
Culloden Moor by Inverness, ended in under one
hour with the defeat of the Jacobite's. Bonnie
Prince Charlie survived the battle only to flee
to France. This was the last major battle
fought on the British Isles.
1762, The Highland Clearances start, as
Chiefs and land owners begin forcing Crofters
off their land so they can make way for large
sheep farms, also to reduce the population,
less chance of more Jacobite risings. Many
Crofters relocated to coastal areas for
Fishing, or into large Towns and Cities in
search of work. Many Crofters were forced to
emigrated to America and Canada, where they
were encouraged to move into new territory,
where they would have to face hostile native
Americans.
1760s, the first Canals were built around
Scotland with heavy horses pulling the barges
full of coal, food and other goods.
1700s mid, water powered Weaving Mills were
being build around Scotland to weave Wool,
Linen and Cotton on a large scale. This was one
of the largest industries in Scotland until
most began closing down in the 1950s due to
textiles being made less expensive in places
such as India.
1700s mid, the Industrial Revolution led to
large Coal Mines all over Scotland with some
over 1,000ft deep, this powering Steam Engines,
also used to smelt Iron around Scotland, with
Metal Foundries also a large industry. Less
expensive imports lead to the end of the Coal
Mines and Foundries from the 1990s.
1800s early, first Macadam Roads were built
from different sizes of broken stone to give a
fairly even road, making road travel a lot
faster.
1812, Henry Bell built the first comercial
Steamboat to take guests from Glasgow to his
Hotel in Helensburgh, this leading to Powered
Ferries running across vast Rivers and to the
many Islands, with the first Roll On Roll Off
Car Ferry entering sevice in 1850 across the
Firth of Forth by Edinburgh.
1831, the first Train services begin in
Scotland, leading to the end of the
Stagecoaches. The Fishing of Hearing around
Scotland became a giant industry from that time
with the Railways transporting the fish around
the UK and Europe.
1842, Queen Victoria began visiting Scotland
giving great reviews, leading to mass tourism,
with large Hotels built around scenic areas
such as the Trossachs and Highlands from that
time.
1895, the first Cars began running in
Scotland.
1902, the first Tar Covered Roads were built
in Scotland.
1900s early, the Railways begin building
golf resorts around scotland such as Turnberry
and Gleneagles leading to mass golf
tourism.
1900s early, shipbuilding became a top
industry in Scotland, seeing some of the
largest Liners and Warships built by Glasgow on
the River Clyde such as the Queen Mary,
Elizabeth and QE2.
1912, Diesel engines began powering Boats,
Trucks, Farm Tractors, Barges and more, leading
to the end of Steam Engines and Heavy Horses,
although some Steam Trains operated until the
1980s.
1837-1901, Queen Victoria (Hanover) ruled
Britain with her children marrying throughout
Europe. Her marriage to Prince Albert (son of
Ernest Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha,
Germany) produced 9 children and 40
grandchildren. Victoria Adelaide, their first
child, married the German Emperor Frederick
III, with their son becoming Kaiser Wilhelm II
of World War I era. Edward II, their second
child, ruled Britain under his fathers title
Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, with his son becoming
George V of Britain of the World War I era.
Princess Alice, their third child, married the
German Louis IV of Hesse, Grand Duke, with
their daughter Princess Alexandria marrying
Csar Nicholas II of Russia of World War I
era.
1917, during World War One, King George V of
Britain takes on the name House of Windsor for
the British royalty, in an attempt to distance
them from their German relations. As the war
came to an end, George’s cousin Kaiser
Wilhelm II of Germany, abdicated and move to
Holland. Czar Nicholas II of Russia,
George’s other cousin, was forced to
abdicate in 1917 during the Bolshevik
Revolution. The Czar, Princess Alexandria and
their family, were shot by the
Bolshevik’s on the 16th July 1918. The
House of Windsor survived the war, remaining
popular monarchs in Britain into the 21st
century.
Three rulers of the most powerful countries
that fought each other during World War One,
Britain, Germany and Russia, were related
through Queen Victoria. This must be the
largest family feud in history, that led to the
death of around 9 million people.
1930s, Dams were built around Scotland to
produce Electricity for Homes, also for
smelting Aluminium at places such as Fort
William and Kinlochleven.
1960s, the first Motorways were built in
Scotland, also the first large Road Trucks and
Buses for long distances were being built,
leading to the closure of many Rail Lines.
1990s, Wind Turbines are built all over
Scotland, on Hills and in the Sea, with claims
in 2016 there was more electricity produced by
the turbines in Scotland than was used.
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