The history of Scotland is known to domestic readers mainly from the novels of Walter Scott, dedicated to the turbulent turning point of the English Revolution and the fall of the Stuarts. Otherwise, Scotland appears on the pages of books and magazines only in the role of an implacable opponent of England. And very little attention is paid to the period when both states coexisted peacefully, and the hoary days of the founding of Scottish statehood completely escape the field of view of researchers. It is this era that Agnes MacKenzie's book tells about. Step by step, the author traces the process of formation of the Scottish nation, the gathering of Scottish lands from the most ancient times until the time when Scottish territory acquired modern contours. Early Scottish history is no less rich in dramatic plots, paradoxes, ups and downs than the history of any other countries, and this book will help the reader not only look into the depths of centuries and get acquainted with hitherto little-known lands, people and events, but also better understand the nature and character of Scotland and the Scots.