What was happening elsewhere in the world when Robert the Bruce was outlawed and Mary Queen of Scots lost her head? When Genghis Khan was on the warpath and Ivan the Terrible was the Russian czar, what was happening in Scotland? Connecting Two Millenia of Scotland’s History places events in Scotland in relation to those elsewhere.

This talk will explore how this comparative timeline shows us what is distinctive about Scotland’s historical experiences while also showing how some were part of wider cultural or political change in Europe and beyond. John Knox’s fiery sermons of the 1560s were connected to a wider Protestant Reformation, but they also represented a singularly Scottish version of a European phenomenon.

It will also explore how Connecting Scotland’s histories gives us a history of ‘many Scotlands’, to consider the hybrid nature of a country where multiple peoples have come together in a distinctively Scottish mixture. From the Gaels, Picts and Norse people to more recent influxes from England, Ireland, continental Europe and beyond, Scotland’s history tells us of internal connections as well as connections between Scotland and the wider world.

Dr Anna Groundwater is a cultural and social historian of early modern Scotland, currently Principal Curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland. She is the author of Connecting Scotland’s History: a Scottish history timeline within 2,000 years of world history (Luath Press, 2025).

Check out the A Blether O’ Books 2025 Collection for other events in this series.

Refunds will only be given in the event of cancellation by organisers.