Formation of the kingdom of Alba - part 1

This video is part of the Advanced Higher History course on Northern Britain, from the Iron Age to 1034. Part of a unit on Kingdom of Alba, it covers the factors behind the formation of Alba and its rise as a 'new' kingdom in Northern Britain by 900AD. The content has been split into two videos. Part 1 covers the background to the formation of Alba, discussing when it was first recorded in the historical record with the death of the first 'King of Alba' in 900AD - Donald mac Constantine - before addressing the political landscape in Northern Britain at the end of the 9th century. The video then identifies four factors considered to play a role in the eventual formation of Alba: the role and conquests of King Kenneth macAlpine, the cultural amalgamation of the Gaels and the Picts, the unifying force of shared religion, and the pressing threat of a common foe in the face of Norse aggression. This video - part 1 of a pair - will then go on to cover factors 1 and 2: the role and conquests of King Kenneth macAlpine and the cultural amalgamation of the Gaels and the Picts.