Scottish History

It may be surprising to hear that Shakespeare's "Macbeth" was a real person, one that stands apart from his literary counterpart. This 49-minute documentary explores the true story of Macbeth, the Scottish warlord and king. Though there are some similarities between the two characters (both killed King Duncan I, for instance), much of their tales diverge without any overlap. Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, anglicized as Macbeth, ruled Scotland from 1040 to 1057, when he was killed by Duncan's son, Malcolm.

High in the Italian Alps is Gurro, a small village with a distinct Scottish flair that can be found in its food, clothing, language, and music. At first glance, it may seem like a curiosity, but, as one resident explains in this short video documentary, there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for how an Italian town became known as a Scottish hamlet.