Post by Alans on Jul 8, 2004 1:54:44 GMT -6
Have just finished reading Tom devine's latest masterly work "The Scottish Empire" 1600-1815. Basically his thesis is that without Scotland there would have been no British Empire. It is very well written( as usual ) and shows in depth research. Bits of it cover the same ground as his "The Scottish Nation" but it is different in its emphasis.Scotland's contribution of soldiers, traders, administrators is clearly shown to have been out of all proportion to her numbers in C18th and C19th British Imperial History. Her input of social and political theory to British culture ( eg. Hume and Smith ) is detailed as is the Scientific and Industrial input of Scots into the UK polity-especially after the mid C18th.
Just to give two examples for Australia. Firstly the huge contribution of Scots surveyors to Australian exploration and development, particularly by giant personalities like Thomas Mitchell and John McDouall Stuart whose achievements luckily matched their egos. Second the development of the enormous Australian pastoral industry and even general Agriculture where 30% of all major pastoralists by the mid C19th were Scots. Many of the leading business figures in the cities were also Scots. Despite Scots only making up just over 10% of emigrants they heavily influenced Australian Insitutions and Industries. For the development of British North America and New Zealand the Scots influence is even more marked.
Finally the Scots were incredibly prominent in the development of British Imperial India- Devine leaves no doubt that things would have gone very differently without their contribution.
He explains this remarkable influence of one of Europes smaller counties on World History in terms of Education, poverty as a spur, and the national characteristics of determination and perserverence. The unique influence of Clydeside on World Industry and trade is minutely analysed well into the C20th as well. Political and economic influences are convincingly disected and facts and figures supplied to back up his analysis.
Devine and other revisionists do not always make comfortable reading for those who have a mainly romantic or heroic view of Scots History; although he does not neglect regional factors or individual qualities as influences. He also deals more than adequately with the cultural clashes between Gael and non Gael and the very painful melding of disparate outlooks into the modern Scots National characteristics we know today.
I may do a fuller review elsewhere but I do recommend this new work by a very fine Scots Historian.
Regards to all Alan.
