What the performance covers: The Complete History of Scotland in 55 minutes. CfE links on last page Ice Age 10,000 years ago the Ice Age covered Scotland in a huge sheet of solid ice and glaciers which carved out all the mountains and glens and lochs that shape Scotland today. Stone Age But then the temperature rose, the ice melted away and the first people arrived and began to explore this brand new country. This was the Stone Age. But about 6,000 years ago a big change happened in the way people lived. The earliest people of Scotland learned that living together in villages and growing their own food was easier and safer than just hunting and gathering whatever they could find in the forests. And those first little villages grew into bigger villages and towns and some of them eventually became the big cities of Scotland that we know today- Glasgow and Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. Iron Age...time is marching on. Now we re in a new age- the Iron Age. The people of Scotland, or Caledonia as it was called then, after a tribe called the Caledonians, had new and better tools made of tough metal: iron. Romans But that peace was about to be shattered by fierce invaders all the way from Italy- the Romans! You can tell Romans were here in Scotland from all the clues they left behind. And, of course, the biggest clue of all is Hadrian s Wall, which you can still see to this day.
Picts They didn t call themselves the Picts though this was the Roman name for them because they covered their bodies in tattoos and painted their faces with pictures to intimidate their enemies. And suddenly, about 1,600 years ago, the Romans upped sticks and left Scotland, never to return. Scots Of course, Scotland still wasn t always called Scotland - it was still Caledonia. But all that was going to change. Because at the same time as the Romans were leaving, a new tribe began to settle in Caledonia. They were the Scots and they came all the way from Ireland. FERGUS: I m Fergus the Scot from the emerald isle of Ireland. Now I know we ve got a bad reputation- but don t let that fool you. We re really a peace loving people, to be sure. We ll just settle ourselves in this little corner of Caledonia which we re going to call Dal Riata (Dál Riata (also Dalriada or Dalriata) was a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland with some territory on the northeast coast of Ireland). Vikings Caledonia was plunged into turmoil. The Picts fought the Scots... the Scots fought the Picts...and the Vikings fought everyone! What this country needed was a hero to step forward and unite the Picts and Scots against the vicious Vikings. And this hero was a Scot called Kenneth MacAlpin! MACALPIN: PICT: Well done people of Caledonia. For the first time our whole country is united as one. And to celebrate this new found pact between Pict and Scot this country deserves a new name. From now on Caledonia shall be known as... Pictland! MACALPIN: Eh, no. 2 of 6
PICT: MACALPIN: PICT: Pictavia? No! From now on this country shall be known as...scotland!! Scotland? King Edward/ John Baliol/ Robert the Bruce & William Wallace Now we must spin the clock forward again almost 400 years to yet another momentous time in Scotland s history. A time of great heroes and great villains. A time of Scotland s fight for freedom... BRUCE: In that case we ll make you Guardian of Scotland. You might not be king but you ll still be in charge. Look after Scotland, William Wallace- this country needs you. BRUCE: You know, that wee spider should be an inspiration to us all. It looked like it would never make it across that cave but it never lost heart and it kept on going til it got where it wanted. So I took courage from that wee spider and I walked out of that cave with my head held high and I never looked back. Just like the spider I kept on trying and I never gave up. I became King of Scots, and in the year 1314 my army defeated the English at a place called Bannockburn. Scotland was free at last. And I, Robert Bruce, make this declaration, For so long as 100 of us remain alive, we will never submit to the rule of England. It is not for glory, or riches or honours that we fight, but for freedom alone, which no-one gives up but with their life. Mary, Queen of Scots. So that s how William Wallace and King Robert the Bruce saved Scotland. And Robert s descendants gave rise to a line of kings that would rule Scotland for the next 300 years- the Stewarts. There were 2 King Roberts and then 5 King Jameses in a row. MARY: Excusez moi, monsieur. Scotland has had enough of all these silly kings. It is time she had a beautiful queen. 3 of 6
MSP But time is marching on again. The world was changing fast. New continents were being discovered and countries like Spain, France and England were growing rich through trade and the horrible business of slavery. But not Scotland- try as she might to cash in on the riches of this brave, new world, everything she tried ended in failure. Poor Scotland! What are we going to do? I mean I m a Member of Parliament, I m supposed to help look after Scotland. Much more of this and we ll all starve! We need to find some cash somewhere and fast. GODOLPHIN: Oh cheer up you dour Scotsman. I ve come all the way from London to offer you some cash. GODOLPHIN: HANDING OVER THE MONEY. Splendid! You won t regret it. And furthermore, to celebrate this union of parliaments, Scotland and England will now be united in a brand new country- Great Britain. With a brand new Union flag and everything. HANDING UNION FLAG TO MSP. Hurrah for Great Britain! Rule Brittania, Brittania rules the waves! MSP: So Scotland was no longer just Scotland. It was now just a small part of a much bigger country- Great Britain. For centuries Scotland s heroes- Kenneth MacAlpin, William Wallace, Robert Bruce and many others had fought wars and battles for Scotland s independence. And now it was gone- and all for a bag of gold. 4 of 6
King George/ Hanovarians/ Redcoats & Bonnie Prince Charlie/ Jacobites/ Flora McDonald But lots of people in Scotland hated this new union and the way it had come about. They thought Scotland had been cheaply bought. The new nation of Great Britain was not at peace. Many kings and queens came and went and there was fighting and rebellion everywhere. Finally a new King was crowned, all the way from Germany, and his name was George Hanover. But not everyone happy about a German being the king of Great Britain... Victorians/ Industrial Revolution Scots invented the telephone, marmalade, flushing toilets, golf, the bank of England, matches, bicycles and postcards. But there is one thing that a famous Scot invented almost 100 years ago that we all still use today- apart from toilets of course. And the name of this famous Scottish inventor is John Logie Baird. Famous Scots John Logie baird JOHN: This little box will revolutionise the world of entertainment forever. It will televise things called programmes. Demographics of Scotland today So whether you were born in Scotland or whether you ve come here from another part of the world. Africa or India... England or Poland... America or Australia... Whatever you do and whatever happens, we are all part of the......the Complete History of Scotland!! 5 of 6
Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes I can explain why a group of people from beyond Scotland settled here in the past and discuss the impact they have had on the life and culture of Scotland. SOC 3-03a I can make links between my current and previous studies, and show my understanding of how people and events have contributed to the development of the Scottish nation. SOC 3-02a I can discuss the motives of those involved in a significant turning point in the past and assess the consequences it had then and since. SOC 3-06a I have experienced the energy and excitement of being part of an audience for other people s presentations/performances. EXA 3-01a I can respond to the experience of drama by discussing my thoughts and feelings. I can give and accept constructive comment on my own and others work. EXA 3-15a I can make informed judgments and express considered opinions on my own and others work. EXA 4-15a 6 of 6