Empire 187. The Birth of Britain
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Sep 18, 2024 Murray Pittock, a distinguished historian focused on Scottish history and author of 'Scotland, The Global History', joins to unravel the transition of Scotland into the United Kingdom. He discusses King James I's strange reign and the implications of the Act of Union in 1707. The podcast delves into Scotland's economic hardships, the controversial Darien scheme, and the tensions between Scottish aspirations and English dominance. Pittock also highlights the lasting repercussions of this historical moment on Scottish identity and autonomy within a composite monarchy.
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Colonial Loot and the Act of Union
- The Scottish elite's desire for colonial loot and the Darien scheme's failure possibly influenced the Act of Union.
- This is a recurring debate among the podcast hosts.
Scotland's Colonial Struggles
- Scotland's failure to establish its own colonial interests stemmed from a lack of resources and English trade restrictions.
- The English Navigation Acts limited Scottish colonial trade opportunities.
William Dalrymple's Mi'kmaq Ancestry
- William Dalrymple's DNA results reveal 2% Mi'kmaq ancestry, potentially linked to the Nova Scotia colony.
- His ancestors were Nova Scotia baronets, involved in the colony's colonization attempts.
