The Scottish Wars of Independence, 1296-1357: The Survival of the Kingdom

Content of Course

1. Prelude to war: the Canmore dynasty, the Guardians, the Great Cause and King John Balliol.

2. William Wallace and Edward I.

3. Robert the Bruce, murder and disaster: the early years as king.

4. Bannockburn: before and after.

5. Legacy of Bannockburn: propaganda and historical myths.

Teaching method(s)

Lectures with a strong emphasis on class participation through discussions, questions and answers and use of primary documents.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the complex nature of the Scottish kingdom and kingship during the crisis of the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries;

• Comment on the concept of national identity in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries;

• Understand the difference between the civil war within Scotland and the war with England;

• Distinguish between myths and facts regarding William Wallace and Robert the Bruce;

• Develop some familiarity with a selection of primary sources.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

• Brown, M., 2004. The Wars of Scotland, 1214-1371. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

• Barrow, G. W. S., 1988 or 2005. Robert the Bruce and the Community of the Realm. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Recommended:

• Grant, A., 1984. Independence and Nationhood: Scotland 1306-1469. New York: Columbia University Press.

• Prestwich, M., 1980/94/2003. The Three Edwards: War and State in England, 1272-1377. London: Methuen and Co.

Web Sources

www.rps.ac.uk

Records of the Parliament of Scotland

www.educationscotland.gov.uk

Education Scotland

Class Handouts

There will be handouts, bibliographies chronologies, and extracts from primary documents.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.