2: Birth of a Nation | In Search of Scotland

Duration: 29'16''

Synopsis

By the first century, Scotland was in an age of competing tribes speaking different languages. Fiona Watson examines how the Picts, Britons, Romans, Gaels, Angles and Norsemen all contributed to the development of Alba.

Further Information

More clips from In Search of Scotland

1: Mysterious Ancestors | In Search of Scotland

1: Mysterious Ancestors | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2001 | 29'06''

Exploring Scotland's dramatic history, Dr Fiona Watson begins with our mysterious Neolithic ancestors.

10: A Century of Pain and Pleasure | In Search of Scotland

10: A Century of Pain and Pleasure | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2005 | 29'22''

Fiona Watson looks at how the decline of heavy industry in the 20th century has affected Scotland and how the Scot...

3: Impact of the Monk | In Search of Scotland

3: Impact of the Monk | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2001 | 29'08''

In the middle ages monasticism was a potent force in society with the monks having an important impact on lay activities. Fiona...

4: The Wars of Independence | In Search of Scotland

4: The Wars of Independence | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2001 | 28'55''

How English aggression in the 13th and 14th centuries forged Scottish people more firmly into a nation.

5: Court and Kirk | In Search of Scotland

5: Court and Kirk | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2001 | 29'02''

Fiona Watson examines how the emergence of Protestantism changed Scottish society and opened new political divides.

6: The European Lifeline | In Search of Scotland

6: The European Lifeline | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2001 | 29'11''

From the 15th century the east coast burghs formed strong trading links with western and northern Europe. Fiona Watson trave...

7: The Making of the Union | In Search of Scotland

7: The Making of the Union | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2002 | 29'12''

Fiona Watson explains the background to Scotland's union with England in 1707 and asks if bribery, double-dealing and trea...

8: Crucible of the Modern World | In Search of Scotland

8: Crucible of the Modern World | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2003 | 29'19''

Fiona Watson looks at the influential Scots who played a large part in both the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revo...

9: The Victorian Achievement | In Search of Scotland

9: The Victorian Achievement | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2004 | 28'59''

Fiona Watson looks at how the prosperity of cities such as Glasgow and Dundee in the 19th century was tempered by widesp...

More resources about Pre-history

1: Mysterious Ancestors | In Search of Scotland

1: Mysterious Ancestors | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2001 | 29'06''

Exploring Scotland's dramatic history, Dr Fiona Watson begins with our mysterious Neolithic ancestors.

1: Stonehenge | The Flying Archaeologist

1: Stonehenge | The Flying Archaeologist

BBC One | 2013 | 28'58''

Archaeologist Ben Robinson flies over Wiltshire to uncover new discoveries in the Stone Age landscape. Sites found from the air have...

2: Norfolk Broads | The Flying Archaeologist

2: Norfolk Broads | The Flying Archaeologist

BBC One | 2013 | 28'58''

Ben Robinson flies over the Broads where photos have revealed 945 previously unknown ancient sites, many of which have historian...

Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations

Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'21''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates Amanirenas, the Queen of the Kingdom of Kush.

Early humans and the development of culture | Africa's Great Civilisations

Early humans and the development of culture | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'06''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates early human migration from Africa and the development of culture...

Europe's first farmers | Europe: A Natural History

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BBC Four | 2007 | 3'17''

An exploration of the first farmers in Mesopotamia.

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BBC Four | 2018 | 2'22''

Henry Louis Gates investigates the early uses of Iron and the impacts it had on early societies in Africa.

S2E7: Dinosaurs & Duplicity: Discovery of the First Dinosaur | Days That Shook the World

S2E7: Dinosaurs & Duplicity: Discovery of the First Dinosaur | Days That Shook the World

BBC Two | 2004 | 30'08''

Using dramatized reconstructions, this program recalls the first discovery of a dino...

S2E7: Piltdown Man | Days That Shook the World

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BBC Two | 2004 | 29'10''

Using dramatized reconstructions, this program recalls the 'Piltdown Man' hoax in 1953.

The evolution of writing | Africa's Great Civilisations

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BBC Four | 2018 | 3'42''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates the evolution of writing in Africa.

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BBC Four | 2018 | 5'08''

Henry Louis Gates Jr looks at the discoveries that point to Africa as the genetic home of all currently livi...

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What was Stonehenge? | Europe: A Natural History

BBC Four | 2007 | 1'52''

The history of Stonehenge.

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BBC Two | 2022 | 58'58''

The best archaeology from the north of Britain, including Scotland's oldest railway, one of the best-preserved Norman castles and a...

1: Beginnings | Michael Wood: The Story of India

1: Beginnings | Michael Wood: The Story of India

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'02''

Michael Wood journeys through the subcontinent, tracing the diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes. He charts the...

1: Survival | Andrew Marr's History of the World

1: Survival | Andrew Marr's History of the World

BBC One | 2012 | 59'26''

Andrew Marr traces 70,000 years of history, beginning with the earliest humans. From Africa, they spread around the world, a...

Bronze Age Britain | Learning Zone

Bronze Age Britain | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 5'55''

Life in Bronze Age Britain through the eyes of one family as they learn how copper and tin is mined, and make bronze using a furnace.

Bronze Age Stonehenge gold | Learning Zone

Bronze Age Stonehenge gold | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'46''

There are also lots of barrow burials around Stonehenge and one of them, Bush Barrow Man, is used to find out about Bronze Age times.

Bronze Age: making metal | Learning Zone

Bronze Age: making metal | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 4'45''

Raksha visits Butser Ancient Farm to make a bronze age axe head exactly the way Bronze Age man would have done so.

Bronze Age: wool | Learning Zone

Bronze Age: wool | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2015 | 2'45''

Raksha visits the Bronze Age at an ancient farm and learns how to make woollen cloth.

Flint | The Great British Countryside

Flint | The Great British Countryside

BBC One | 2012 | 3'45''

Julia Bradbury investigates flint and the ancient craft of arrowhead making that it was used for.