Scotland: History of Scotland Feature - Scotland Through the Centuries

The mysterious stone circles scattered across the archipelagos of Scotland’s islands mark the start of Scotland’s known history, and are thought to date back 5,000 years. From that point in Neolithic Scotland, all the way to the passing of the Scotland Act in 1998 – leading to the establishment of the first Scottish Parliament since the Act of Union in 1707 – Scotland has a rich and colourful history. The centuries abounding with tales of fallen monarchs, uprisings, glorious victories and bloody defeats. And we have seen Scottish figures such as like Bonnie Prince Charlie, Mary Queen of Scots, and William Wallace breathe once again as inspiring characters in modern day adaptations of heroic histories.

The Georgian architecture of Edinburgh brought in a refined elegance that still remains today as the very symbol of a time of growing confidence, often called the ‘Age of Enlightenment’. Then the age of the Victorians was marked by expanding cities, especially Glasgow, and an entrepreneurial air, when this part of Scotland was referred to as ‘the workshop of the Western World’.

With all that history flowing through their veins, it isn’t surprising that the Scots are proud of their heritage. In this section you can learn a little more about the origins of Scotland, and how they have contributed to the development of a highly modern country today.