Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages

Edward J. Cowan, Russell Andrew McDonald

John Donald, 2005 - History - 282 pages

A group of distinguished Scottish medievalists examines various aspects of the history of Celtic or Gaelic-speaking Scotland from the sub-Roman period to the sixteenth century. It is the first such volume to scrutinise in detail the history of the Highlands and Islands incorporating the most up-to-date research. It examines the evolution of the idea of 'Celtic Scotland', tracing the historiography of the Gaidhealtachd through the Caledonians, the Picts and the first medieval writings in the area. It investigates such areas as Galloway as well as surveying politics, culture and the church in the context of the great medieval lordships such as those of the Isles, Argyll, Moray and Ross and demonstrates how the histories of such provinces were integrated into that of Scotland at large.

About the author

Edward J. Cowan Edward J. Cowan is Emeritus Professor of Scottish History at Glasgow University. R. Andrew McDonald is Professor of History at Brock University, Canada, where he was the founding director of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. He is the author of many books, book chapters and articles on medieval Scottish, Hebridean and Manx history, including The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard, c.1100-c.1336, and is co-editor of The Viking Age: A Reader and Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages
• Editors: Edward J. Cowan, Russell Andrew McDonald
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: John Donald, 2005
• ISBN: 085976608X, 9780859766081
• Length: 282 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / Great Britain / General; History / Europe / Great Britain / Scotland; History / Europe / Medieval; History / Europe / Western; Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural & Social