15. Looking back: why is this topic so important in Scottish History? Here are some points to think about ...
1. Choose one of the following to describe yourself ...
British?
European?
World citizen?
Scottish?
You could also ask members of your own family the same question. Many will choose "Scottish". This idea of "national identity" was unknown in the early middle ages but started to develop in Scotland at the time of Wallace and Bruce. The events you have studied were especially important because Bruce's victory made certain that Scotland would remain a separate and independent country with its own languages and culture.
2. During the time of Wallace and Bruce, Scotland developed a connection with France. This was to help protect Scotland against attacks from England. This connection lasted until Scotland lost its own Parliament in 1707 and even after this. The connection was not always good for Scotland and some Scots thought that a connection with England was a better idea. This struggle about which way Scotland should go - towards France or towards England - helped to shape all of Scotland's history after Wallace and Bruce.
3. Scottish myths. A lot of nonsense is actually believed about Scottish history. The things that people believe about the past can also affect the way they think about things which are happening now. The movie "Braveheart" is a good example of this. The movie was released in the 1990s and strongly affected people's ideas about Scotland's history and Scotland's connections with other countries today, especially England. Now that you know more about what actually happened, you will be in a better position to make your own mind up.
