The recorded history of Scotland begins with the arrival of the Roman Empire in the 1st century CE. The Romans advanced to the Antonine Wall in central Scotland, but were forced back to Hadrian's Wall by the Picts of Caledonia. Before Roman times, Scotland experienced the Neolithic Era around 4000 BCE, the Bronze Age around 2000 BCE, and the Iron Age around 700 BCE. In the 6th century CE, the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata was established on Scotland's west coast. Irish missionaries converted the Picts to Celtic <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Christianity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christianity</a> in the following century. The Pictish king Nechtan later aligned with the Roman rite to diminish Gaelic influence and prevent conflict with Northumbria. <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Viking-Invasions-of-England" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Viking invasions</a> in the late 8th century forced the Picts and Gaels to unite, forming the Kingdom of Scotland in the 9th century. The Kingdom of Scotland was initially ruled by the House of Alpin, but internal conflicts over succession were common. The kingdom transitioned to the House of Dunkeld after Malcolm II's death in the early 11th century. The last Dunkeld king, Alexander III, died in 1286, leaving his infant granddaughter Margaret as heir. Her death led to Edward I of <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-England" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">England's</a> attempts to conquer Scotland, sparking the <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/First-War-of-Scottish-Independence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wars of Scottish Independence</a>. The kingdom ultimately secured its sovereignty. In 1371, Robert II founded the House of Stuart, which ruled Scotland for three centuries. James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne in 1603, leading to the Union of the Crowns. The 1707 Acts of Union merged Scotland and England into the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Stuart dynasty ended with Queen Anne's death in 1714, succeeded by the houses of Hanover and Windsor. Scotland flourished during the Scottish Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution, becoming a commercial and intellectual center. However, it faced significant industrial decline post-<a href="https://history-maps.com/story/World-War-II" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World War II</a>. Recently, Scotland has seen cultural and economic growth, partly due to North Sea oil and gas. Nationalism has grown, culminating in a 2014 referendum on independence.

Visual Timelines

History of Scotland Timeline

History of Scotland Timeline

Prehistoric Scotland

First Settlements in Scotland

Neolithic Scotland

Bronze Age Scotland

Ancient Scotland

Iron Age Scotland

Scotland during the Roman Empire

Picts of Scotland

Kingdom of Strathclyde

Christianity in Scotland

Medieval Scotland

Kingdom of Dál Riata

Kingdom of Bernicia

Post-Roman Scotland

Battle of Dun Nechtain

Scandinavian Scotland

Picts’ Last Stand

Kingdom of Alba

Kingdom of the Isles

Constantine II of Scotland

Alliance and Expansion: From Malcolm I to Malcolm II

Gaelic Kingship to Norman Influence: Duncan I to Alexander I

Davidian Revolution: From David I to Alexander III

Wars of Scottish Independence

House of Stuart

Centralization and Conflict: From James I to James II

Story of Golf

Renaissance and Ruin: From James III to James IV

Early Modern Scotland

Tumultuous Times: James V and Mary, Queen of Scots

Scottish Reformation

Union of the Crowns

Wars of the Three Kingdoms

Glorious Revolution in Scotland

Jacobite Rising of 1689

Late Modern Scotland

Acts of Union 1707

Jacobite Rebellions

Scottish Enlightenment

Industrial Revolution in Scotland

Collapse of the clan system

Scottish Emigration

Religious Schism in 19th century Scotland

Scotland during World War I

Scotland during World War II

Postwar Scotland

2014 Scottish independence referendum

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Art of War of the Byzantine Empire

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