Links
The National Library of Scotland does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions of any of these sites – we just think they're interesting. Our descriptions indicate the nature of the site and whether it is an academic or popular resource, or whether the site endorses a particular agenda.
General
History – The website of the Institute of Historical Research
The IHR has a directory of British historians and theses in progress, as well as details of seminars in all areas of history.
In Search of Scotland
The BBC website accompanying Fiona Watson's television programme In Search of Scotland.
BBC Online History
Or browse BBC History online in general.
Medieval
The Labyrinth
Sponsored by Georgetown University, this must rank as one of the best resources for medieval history on the web.
Internet Medieval Sourcebook
Want to find medieval texts online? Paul Halsall's Internet medieval Sourcebook hosted at Fordham University is a good place to look
Great Women Rulers
The site says: 'We found this list of women rulers on a clever wooden ruler made by the Rich Frog Industries in Burlington, VT. We have added information about what made them famous.' A fun popular history site – meet some interesting medieval (and earlier) women.
Medieval Scotland
A good list of links, bibliographies and FAQS by Sharon Krossa.
Ravensgard's Viking Age Page
Sponsored by Georgetown University, this must rank as one of the best resources for medieval history on the web.
The Book of Deer Project
Digitised version of the famous 10th-century illuminated manuscript, containing the oldest surviving pieces of Scottish Gaelic writing.
National Archives – Domesday Book
Information on the Domesday Book of 1086.
The Aberdeen Bestiary
Digital facsimile of the Aberdeen Bestiary, written and illuminated around 1200.
Catholic Encyclopedia
A list of Popes from the Catholic New Advent site.
Patron Saints Index
From the Catholic community online forum. The patron saints of librarians and archivists are apparently Saints Catherine, Jerome and Lawrence. Alarmingly, Lawrence was cooked to death on a grid-iron, Catherine was allegedly beheaded, and only Jerome died of natural causes. It's a much less dangerous job these days.
History of the Scottish Crown – The Stewarts
The story of the Stewart dynasty, from the Royal Family's official website.
The Brus by John Barbour
Complete text of the 14th-century epic.
British Library – Magna Carta
Information on the Magna Carta at the British Library.
British Library – The Gutenberg Bible
See also digital images of the BL's two Gutenberg Bibles.
Early modern
Henryson's Shorter Poems
The TEAMS Middle English Texts are published for TEAMS (The Consortium for the Teaching of the Middle Ages) in association with the University of Rochester. This is an academic site, but poetry by Robert Henryson is available online.
The tretis of the twa mariit women and the wedo
Read William Dunbar's bawdy 'The tretis of the twa mariit women and the wedo' here!
St Giles' Cathedral
Website of Edinburgh's cathedral, with information about the building, the Reformation and the Covenants.
The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Centre
While Scots were rioting over prayer books, the Dutch were experiencing Tulipmania - find out about it here.
Martin Luther
Find out about the reformer and his life and times at this good popular site by KDG Wittenberg.
Mary Queen of Scots, The Official Site of the Marie Stuart Society of Scotland
A good popular site on Mary Queen of Scots.
The Drawn Sword
This site gives access to over 1300 engravings and woodcuts from the MacBean Stuart and Jacobite Collection at Aberdeen University.
The Society for King Charles the Martyr
A Christian Devotional Society dedicated to King Charles.
Modern
Encyclopedia Britannica
Begun in Scotland, and still useful for Scottish history.
Statistical Accounts of Scotland
Online version of the two Statistical Accounts of Scotland, covering the 1790s and the 1830s.
Eighteenth Century Scottish Studies Society
An interdisciplinary and international society examining all aspects of 18th-century Scottish culture and society.
Robert Burns Country: The Burns Encyclopedia
The official Robert Burns site on the net.
The Victorian Web
An academic site devoted to literature, history and culture in the days of Victoria.
St Kilda
The official National Trust page on St Kilda.
Scots at War
Resource site on Scottish military history of the 20th century.
Scapa Flow and its wrecks
Find out about the German fleet scuttled at Scapa Flow in Orkney.
The Queen Mary
Visit the Queen Mary's home page and find out about the history of the ship, now a floating hotel.
The Loss of the Arandora Star, 1940
The tragic story of one of the Arandora's passengers retold.
Elvis Presley in Scotland
See photographs of the visit at the Rockmine music site.