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History of Population

Early Settlers and Migration and Invasion

It is believed that the first humans arrived in Scotland around 7,000 BC.

Early settlers

Evidence of settlement can be found on the Scottish mainland and in many of the outlying islands mainly on the coast.

Four thousand years later, people started to build permanent dwellings such as Skara Brae in Orkney. The standing Stones at Callanish on the island of Lewis also date from this time proving that communities were becoming established in rural Scotland.

Migration and invasion

Some Key Events:

BC 7000 – AD 80

Migration of Beaker People from continental Europe

900 BC

Celtic migration

AD 80 – 401

Roman invasion

AD 563

St Columba

AD 790

Vikings arrived and started to settle

Late 18th Century

In-migration of seasonal workers to some areas but eviction in other areas (Clearances)

Mid 19th Century

Rural to Urban migration within Scotland and further clearances

 Why the population changes

There are a number of reasons why the population of a country or an area will change over time:

  • The number of births
  • The number of deaths
  • Employment Opportunities – positive or negative
  • Lifestyle change – for example: having children; retirement
  • Emigration – voluntary or enforced
  • Immigration
Questions

Click here to open a pdf file containing population charts.

Look at the first two diagrams in the PDF: Age Distribution in Rural Areas and Age Distribution in Urban Areas.

Question: Identify differences in age distribution between urban and rural areas

Look at the final diagram: A comparison of the age distribution of population of an urban area and a rural area.

Questions:

  • Can you identify the age groups that show an obvious difference between the two areas?
  • What are the possible reasons for this difference?
  • How might this affect Eilean Siar?