Classical Caledonia: Roman History and Myth in Eighteenth-Century Scotland

Alan Montgomery

This book focuses on early modern attitudes towards Scotland’s ancient past and looks in particular at the ways in which this past was not only misunderstood, but also manipulated in attempts to create a patriotic history for the nation. Adding a new perspective on the formation of Scotland’s national identity, the book documents a century-long, often heated debate regarding the extent of Roman influence north of Hadrian’s Wall. By exploring the lives and writings of antiquarians, poets and Enlightenment thinkers, it aims to uncover the political, patriotic and intellectual influences which fuelled this debate. Classical Caledonia casts a light on a rarely discussed aspect of Scotland’s historiography, one which played a vital role in establishing early modern notions of ‘Scottishness’ at a time when Scotland was coming to terms with radical and traumatic changes to its position within Britain and the wider world.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vii
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List of figures
pp viii-viii
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Acknowledgements
pp ix-x
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Introduction
pp 1-14
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1 - Imagining a classical Caledonia: Sir Robert Sibbald’s vision of Scotland’s Roman past
pp 15-32
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2 - Walled out of humanity: Sir John Clerk and his circle
pp 33-51
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3 - Resisting the ‘Conquerors of the Universe’: celebrating the Caledonian rejection of Rome
pp 52-70
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4 - ‘Beyond the Vallum’: English interpretations of Scottish history
pp 71-89
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5 - ‘Monuments and delights of the arts’: rediscovering the material remains of Rome in Scotland
pp 90-111
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6 - Reconquering the Highlands: Hanoverian interpretations of Roman Scotland
pp 112-130
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7 - The age of ‘Agricolamania’: early modern uses and abuses of Tacitus’ Agricola
pp 131-148
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8 - Forging a nation: the spurious histories of Charles Bertram and James Macpherson
pp 149-167
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9 - After Ossian: changing interpretations of Roman Scotland
pp 168-188
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Conclusion
pp 189-200
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Bibliography
pp 201-216
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Index
pp 217-225
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Classical Caledonia

Roman History and Myth in Eighteenth-Century Scotland

Book description

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vii

List of figures
pp viii-viii

Acknowledgements
pp ix-x

Introduction
pp 1-14

1 - Imagining a classical Caledonia: Sir Robert Sibbald’s vision of Scotland’s Roman past
pp 15-32

2 - Walled out of humanity: Sir John Clerk and his circle
pp 33-51

3 - Resisting the ‘Conquerors of the Universe’: celebrating the Caledonian rejection of Rome
pp 52-70

4 - ‘Beyond the Vallum’: English interpretations of Scottish history
pp 71-89

5 - ‘Monuments and delights of the arts’: rediscovering the material remains of Rome in Scotland
pp 90-111

6 - Reconquering the Highlands: Hanoverian interpretations of Roman Scotland
pp 112-130

7 - The age of ‘Agricolamania’: early modern uses and abuses of Tacitus’ Agricola
pp 131-148

8 - Forging a nation: the spurious histories of Charles Bertram and James Macpherson
pp 149-167

9 - After Ossian: changing interpretations of Roman Scotland
pp 168-188

Conclusion
pp 189-200

Bibliography
pp 201-216

Index
pp 217-225

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Classical Caledonia

Roman History and Myth in Eighteenth-Century Scotland

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