The Clearances

[Jock Scot]

One could argue that planting only potatoes as a personal food source did not help matters.

I agree,that's part of the knowhow bit.

[starbkjrus]

Very little in history is completely black and white and when it comes to the clearances the interpretation of them can get pretty emotional.

There is an excellent book by John Prebble called The Highland Clearances that outlines the history and events of this period in Scottish history that explodes some of the commonly held myths and gives a good grounding in the subject and a general understanding of the period of migrations and upheavals throughout Europe will also help put it in context,

I bought this book in a little shop in Wigtown last June and read it on the plane coming home. Fascinating! (and a bit startling. )

[JS Sanders]

John Prebble's book is an excellent treatise on the subject. It's available here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highland-Cle.../dp/0140028374 . It's not too textbook-like and terribly informative.

To perhaps clarify my original post...
My intent was to illustrate how all too often aficionados of all-things-Scottish are under-informed regarding the Clearances.

Many can describe dozens of tartans down to the thread counts, but know bupkus about the translocation or transportion of entire regions of the Highlands - areas even today that are void of humans.

All too often Scotland is illustrated with tartan kitsch, Highlandism, Bravehearters, and Brigadoonery - all having origins in the mid 19th century. And even notables such as Sir Walter Scott were in complete agreement with turning the Highlands into a single vast sheep farm.

On the flip side, without the Clearances much of North America's, Australia's, and New Zealand's recent histories would be significantly different.

Don't let your knowledge of Scottish history stop at Culloden.

Slainte yall,
steve

[Alan H]

John Prebble's book is an excellent treatise on the subject. It's available here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highland-Cle.../dp/0140028374 . It's not too textbook-like and terribly informative.

To perhaps clarify my original post...
My intent was to illustrate how all too often aficionados of all-things-Scottish are under-informed regarding the Clearances.

Many can describe dozens of tartans down to the thread counts, but know bupkus about the translocation or transportion of entire regions of the Highlands - areas even today that are void of humans.

All too often Scotland is illustrated with tartan kitsch, Highlandism, Bravehearters, and Brigadoonery - all having origins in the mid 19th century. And even notables such as Sir Walter Scott were in complete agreement with turning the Highlands into a single vast sheep farm.

On the flip side, without the Clearances much of North America's, Australia's, and New Zealand's recent histories would be significantly different.

Don't let your knowledge of Scottish history stop at Culloden.

Slainte yall,
steve

This sounds like a book I need to read. Thanks for this thread, it's one of the very best I've seen here in a long time.

As for history, or even geography I am amazed at how many people, even well-educated people in the USA can not do simple things like point to a State on a map of the USA when that state is named. I remember talking about Franklin Roosevelt with some college friends, years ago. I got blank looks. .....and he'd been President during their lifetimes!!! (just barely, but STILL).


A curriculum of California State History is essentially non-existent in California high schools. See, it's not on the State Exit Exams, so teachers are thoroughly discouraged from teaching it. I could rant on that, but will refrain. Suffice it to say that there's not a single kid in California that has to drive more than 75 miles to find SOMETHING fascinating from the 250 years (only 250 years!) of recorded human history in California, and yet I bet that the overwhelming majority have never been to a Mission, or a Gold Rush town, or Fort Ross.