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The Makers of Scotland: Picts, Romans, Gaels and Vikings Paperback – September 15, 2013

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 390 ratings

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During the first millennium AD the most northerly part of Britain evolved into the country known today as Scotland. The transition was a long process of social and political change driven by the ambitions of powerful warlords. At first these men were tribal chiefs, Roman generals or rulers of small kingdoms. Later, after the Romans departed, the initiative was seized by dynamic warrior-kings who campaigned far beyond their own borders. Armies of Picts, Scots, Vikings, Britons and Anglo-Saxons fought each other for supremacy.

From Lothian to Orkney, from Fife to the Isle of Skye, fierce battles were won and lost. By AD 1000 the political situation had changed for ever. Led by a dynasty of Gaelic-speaking kings the Picts and Scots began to forge a single, unified nation which transcended past enmities. In this book the remarkable story of how ancient North Britain became the medieval kingdom of Scotland is told.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim Clarkson is an independent researcher and historian, who previously worked in academic librarianship. He gained an MPhil in Archaeology and a PhD in medieval history, both from the University of Manchester. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a member of the editorial board of the Heroic Age online journal.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Birlinn; Reprint edition (September 15, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1780271735
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1780271736
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.8 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 390 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
390 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the author's detailed account of the competing interests between Picts, Scots, Briton, and English. Readers describe it as an excellent read, well-written, and enjoyable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

14 customers mention "Information quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. It provides a detailed account of the many ebbs and flows of the ancient roots and history of the British Isles. The author does an excellent job explaining the competing interests of Picts, Scots, Briton, and English. They appreciate the thorough exploration of the subject and the good discussion of the sources used, including their biases.

"Clarkson has written an excellent history of a relatively obscure past relying primarily on archeological findings and scant written documents,..." Read more

"...There are a number of maps in the book, all helpful, but none that show just the most frequently referred to places, regions and geographic/..." Read more

"...The author does an excellent job of explaining the competing interests of Picts, Scots, Britons, English (Anglo-Saxons), Irish and Norse and Danish..." Read more

"...The interior of the book looks to be full of information." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"9 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They appreciate the detailed account and thoughtful presentation.

"...But still a terrific read - detailed and fascinating." Read more

"...With that caveat, I recommend the book because it is very well written and explores a subject about which I knew only a little." Read more

"Not an easy read ..but I knew that before ordering. The amount of detail is enormous but it is a history so that is par for the course...." Read more

"An excellent read, I have enjoyed it! Book in great shape on arrival, well written" Read more

3 customers mention "Enjoyment"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it thorough and not boring.

"...Enjoyable. But, I find I really need more graphics, maps, photos etc. Ended up buying other books to supplement, like "Strongholds of the Picts."" Read more

"Great read, not at all boring. Wish history had been written like this when I was in high school." Read more

"Enjoyable and thorough....A good read...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2018
    Clarkson has written an excellent history of a relatively obscure past relying primarily on archeological findings and scant written documents, including some fragments of medieval poetry. There is little to go on but the story is fascinating although he is very careful to use qualifiers such as: perhaps, might have, possibly, alternatively. However, the reader gets caught up in the actions of kings or overlords, the various rivalries, the growth of the church, the warfare and continuous struggle for more land and power. As little as we might know about some of these leaders, lost now in the mists of time, men such as Oengus, Brude, Constantine and Aed were equal in many ways to better known figures of the later Middle Ages. He also discusses new theories which counteract the traditional view that the Scots from Ireland that settled Dalriada ultimately vanquished the Picts. The new theory is that the so-called Scots were always there but turned to Ireland because of its proximity. They were separated from the Picts in the east by the Alban Mounth. Because of the closeness to Ireland, their language, Gaelic, gradually became more like Irish. There was no invasion and conquest but a process of cultural change due to trade, intermarriage, warfare and the movement of people. The Picts and other Celtic people such as the Alt Clute did not disappear but lost lost their names and cultural distinction over a period of time. Like other reviewers, I wish the maps had been more detailed but it was still a fascinating read.
    37 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2017
    I would make the same comment as one reader of another of Clarkson's books made about the lack of a map (or maps) showing significant and often-referred to placenames and geological features with which the various tribes, kindreds and peoples are referenced to in the text. Again, as a non-UK resident I found myself unable to visualize the location without frequent interruption to look something up in another reference. There are a number of maps in the book, all helpful, but none that show just the most frequently referred to places, regions and geographic/geological features. But still a terrific read - detailed and fascinating.
    43 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2024
    This is a good book on a complex subject. The author does an excellent job of explaining the competing interests of Picts, Scots, Britons, English (Anglo-Saxons), Irish and Norse and Danish Vikings from the 5th to the 11th centuries. But before all that, it begins with the Romans and the barbarians. As the headline suggests, the genealogies of the kings, chiefs and other leaders are overwhelming. The frequent similarity of names does not help. Also, the author uses approximations of original given names, so that Kenneth McAlpin becomes Cinaed mac Ailpin and so on. I gave up trying to keep track of them all very early on. and tried instead to focus on the narrative of the overall picture. So, I think I have a pretty good sense of the subject in general. But with some notable exceptions, the details of who did what, where and when have not stuck with me. With that caveat, I recommend the book because it is very well written and explores a subject about which I knew only a little.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020
    An excellent read, I have enjoyed it! Book in great shape on arrival, well written
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2021
    All I have ha d time to do is flip through it, but the maps and photos were very interesting. I have Scottish ancestry on my mother side. King Duncan was a distant ancestor, but this goes back much further.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2020
    This book was delivered quickly and in new condition! It is still in my stack of books waiting to be read. The interior of the book looks to be full of information.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2018
    Well research and well presented, the author provides a detailed account of the many ebbs and flows of the history of North Britain and the North of Ireland. While some theories run contrary to established thought and are a bit hard to swallow, the author typically presents his case in a thorough and thoughtful way. Example: The use of the Gaelic language in the Western Isles stemmed from sustained interaction with the people in the North of Ireland and not through the migration of peoples from Ireland.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021
    I liked the opportunity to investigate my people according to history.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Antônio Coelho de Souza do Nasciemento
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 5, 2021
    Muito bom. Satisfeito
  • TVR-Andy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2018
    As an individual I am interested in this period in Scotland's history. This book is excellent and easy to read and follow the events. Good explanations on events and also the difficulty of getting accurate information in some time periods. Great.
  • Matt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cool
    Reviewed in Australia on March 7, 2020
    Very easy read and informative
  • Ben
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Quality
    Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2018
    The book came in good quality.

    I knew relatively little about Scottish history prior to purchasing this book and was able to learn a great deal by carefully reading it through.
  • Barry Corbett
    4.0 out of 5 stars easy to read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2017
    Well written, easy to read. Tim Clarkson assumes his readership is starting from scratch, so gives very good explanations on historical reference and their plausibility..