How the Scots Invented the Modern World facts for kids
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| Author | Arthur Herman |
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| Country | United States |
| Subject | Scottish Enlightenment |
| Genre | non-fiction |
| Publisher | Crown Publishing Group, Three Rivers Press |
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Publication date
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November 2001 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 392 |
| ISBN | 978-0-609-60635-3 |
| OCLC | 46857817 |
| 941.1 21 | |
| LC Class | DA772 .H53 2001 |
How the Scots Invented the Modern World is a non-fiction book by American historian Arthur Herman. It explores the origins of the Scottish Enlightenment. The book also looks at how this period influenced the modern world we live in today. Herman focuses on important individuals and their life stories. He shows how their work contributed to different fields and to the world.
The book was first published in November 2001. It was released as a hardcover by Crown Publishing Group. Later, a paperback version came out in September 2002. Some critics felt the book's main idea was a bit too broad. However, they agreed it described well how Scots had a big impact on modern times. In the US, the paperback became a bestseller. It reached #3 on The Washington Post list. In Canada, it even hit #1.
Contents
Discovering the Scottish Enlightenment
This book came from a class topic at the Smithsonian Institution. Author Arthur Herman was teaching about the intellectual life in Edinburgh in the 1700s. He was amazed that so many important thinkers came from one small place and time. These people had a huge impact on how our modern world developed.
Herman had visited Scotland only once as a teenager. His father, a professor, spent a semester at Edinburgh University. Even though Herman grew up in the US, his family roots are from Norway. He doesn't have any known Scottish ancestors.
The Story of Scottish Influence
The book is split into two main parts. The first part, called "Epiphany," looks at the Scottish Enlightenment. It explains how it started, grew, and affected Scotland and Great Britain.
Roots of Scottish Ideas
The ideas for the Enlightenment came from a love for democracy and reading. This started with the Scottish Reformation. During this time, John Knox brought a type of Protestantism called Calvinist Presbyterianism to Scotland. He taught that God gave power to the people. It was up to the people, not kings, to follow God's laws.
For ordinary people to understand these laws, they needed to read the Bible. So, schools were built in every town. Because of this, more and more Scots learned to read. This created a demand for books and writers in Scotland.
Scotland Joins Great Britain
In 1707, Scotland and England joined to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. The English wanted more control over Scotland. The Scots realized they couldn't beat England's power. Joining helped Scotland right away. The new government didn't pay too much attention to Scotland. This meant cheaper goods could be imported. It also helped Scottish culture to grow and thrive.
Herman says the Scottish Enlightenment was "more robust and original" than the French Enlightenment. The "Scottish school" of thought believed that people are shaped by their surroundings. They are always changing and trying to understand themselves. This led to the growth of social sciences.
Changes After the Jacobite Rising
The defeat of the 1745 Jacobite rising changed Scottish society a lot. The old system, where clan chiefs owned all the land, ended. This made life more free for Scots. Citizens could now own land and keep their profits. Before, all profits went to the chiefs.
Because Scots were already good at reading, they also became good at business. They were able to use trade to their advantage. Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow became centers for new ideas. In Scotland, many religious leaders believed that strong morals and faith were important. They thought these things could exist with a free and open culture. This helped balance out very strict conservatives. Herman writes about people like Francis Hutcheson, Henry Home, Robert Adam, and Adam Smith. Their stories show how Scottish ideas developed.
Scottish Impact Around the World
The second part of the book, "Diaspora," looks at how Scots influenced events and industries worldwide. Many Scots who moved to the American colonies supported the British during the American Revolutionary War. However, those who fought for the American side were very skilled. Many were families who had fled Scotland after the 1745 Jacobite rising.
Herman suggests that the Scottish School of Common Sense greatly influenced American ideas. These ideas shaped the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
After Britain lost the American colonies, a new group of Scottish thinkers emerged. They helped Britain regain its confidence. This allowed the country to manage a huge world empire during the Victorian era. Scottish leaders, like James Mill, helped create the idea of the "civilizing mission." This idea suggested that Europeans should take over other cultures. They believed they could run these societies for their own good. This was sometimes called "the white man's burden." Herman also says that Sir Walter Scott invented the historical novel. This gave literature an important place in modern life.
Science and Industry Contributions
In science and industry, James Watt's steam engine was a game-changer. Herman says it "gave capitalism its modern face." This invention allowed businesses to set up anywhere, like in cities with cheap labor. Scots also worked to fix the negative effects of industry. For example, they started the public health movement. The book highlights Scots like Dugald Stewart, John Witherspoon, John McAdam, Thomas Telford, and John Pringle. Their biographies show how Scots contributed to modern society.
How the Book is Written
Arthur Herman wrote this book for an American audience. He knew they might not know much about Scottish history. So, he gives a historical overview. He also includes short biographies of the most famous Scots.
The book uses the Great Man Theory. This means history is told through the lives of a few important people. Michael Lynch, a reviewer for The Globe and Mail, wrote about this. He said the biographies "reveal subtle but important links between these figures and their ideas." Herman tries to show these ideas as a clear "Scottish" way of thinking.
The book mainly uses information from other books and sources. Herman includes a section at the end of the book. It lists all the sources he used. It also suggests more books for readers to explore. He mentions that works by Scottish historians like Bruce Lenman and John Prebble were very helpful.
Publication Details
The book was published by Random House's Crown Publishing Group. The hardcover came out on November 27, 2001. The paperback, from Three Rivers Press, was released on September 24, 2002. In the US, the hardcover was on The Washington Post bestseller list for three weeks. It reached #5. The paperback stayed on the list for 14 weeks, peaking at #3. In Canada, the paperback was on The Globe and Mail bestseller list for 80 weeks. It reached #1 there.
The British version of the book had a different title. It was called The Scottish Enlightenment: The Scots invention of the Modern World. It was released in the UK by Fourth Estate, part of HarperCollins. The book was also considered for the 2002 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction.
See also
- Scottish inventions and discoveries
