The Orkney Islands are an archipelago of about 70 islands and islets, of which only about 20 are inhabited, in the north of Scotland. The archipelago is about 16 km from the north coast of the island of Great Britain, and is separated by a strait called the Pentland Firth. The Orkney Islands are one of Scotland’s 32 local government areas, as well as a parliamentary constituency, a peerage and a historic county. The local council here is Orkney Islands Council, one of only three councils in Scotland whose majority of members are independents.
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The archipelago has been inhabited by humans since at least 8,500 years ago, originally inhabited by Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes, then by the Pikts. Orkney was conquered and then taken over by the Kingdom of Norway in 875 and inhabited by the Norse people. In 1472, the Scottish Parliament absorbed the Earldom of Orkney into the Kingdom of Scotland, following the failed payment of a dowry promised to James III of Scotland by the family of his bride, Margaret of Denmark
Orkney has many attractions that are of interest to tourists, both natural, cultural and historical. Here, you can learn about the history, traditions, and important events that happened in this archipelago, through prehistoric relics, historical sites, museums, and cultural centers that exist here. You can also enjoy the natural beauty and fun activities in the islands, such as walking on the beach, swimming, surfing, cycling, camping, or watching sea birds.
History Of The Orkney Islands
The history of the Orkney Islands is very long and rich. Archaeological evidence suggests that the archipelago has been inhabited by humans since the Mesolithic period (around 6,500 BC), when they lived as hunter-gatherers. The Neolithic Age (around 4,000 BC) brought great changes in the lifestyle of the indigenous people, who began to cultivate crops and build magnificent stone monuments. Some of the best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe can be found in Orkney, including the stone village of Skara Brae , the stone circle of the Ring of Brodgar , the Standing Stones of Stenness , and the chamber tomb of Maeshowe . All these sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site called the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney”.
The Bronze Age (about 2,000 BC) and Iron Age (about 800 BC) brought new technological developments and weapons to the inhabitants of Orkney. They also built defensive structures such as the broch (round stone tower) and weem (underground house). Some examples of surviving brochs are the Broch of Gurness and Midhowe Broch on Rousay island.
Roman times (around the first century AD) provide the first written evidence of this archipelago. Pliny the Elder in his work Natural History mentions that there were 30 Hebudes (the Latin name for the Hebrides), and makes a separate reference to Dumna, which according to Watson (1926) is the Orkney Islands . However, not much is known about the relationship between the Romans and the natives.
The Viking Age (around the eighth century AD) brought invasions and colonization by the Norse from Norway, who brought Norse culture and language here. They also brought Christianity, which replaced the pagan religion professed by the natives. Orkney became part of the Kingdom of the Isles (also known as the Kingdom of Mann and Isle), a Norse Kingdom centered on the Isle of Man but also encompassing the Orkney Islands and the Inner Hebrides. The kingdom lasted for over 400 years, until sovereignty over Orkney was ceded to Scotland by the Treaty of Perth in 1266 .
Thereafter, control over the islands was held by clan chiefs, chiefly of whom were the MacLeods, MacDonalds, Mackenzies, and MacNeils. They were often involved in disputes and wars between themselves as well as with outsiders, such as the British and Norwegians. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the archipelago was a witness to the Protestant Reformation and the English Civil War, which affected religion and politics here .
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the archipelago experienced a tragic event known as the Highland Clearances, in which many inhabitants were forced to abandon their lands by landlords to make room for sheep farms or new settlements. Many residents emigrated to North America or Australia in search of a better life. This event had a huge impact on the population and culture of this archipelago .
In the twentieth century, the archipelago underwent social and economic changes due to the first and Second World Wars, industrialization, urbanization and globalization. Efforts have been made to preserve the islands ‘ identity and heritage, such as the establishment of the Western Isles Council in 1975 as the first local authority to use Gaelic as an official language. Today, much of the land is under local control, and commercial activities are based on tourism, crofting (traditional agriculture), fishing, and weaving.
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