More than 200 people attended the official launch of the People of Medieval Scotland (PoMS) online database at an event hosted by the Principal and introduced by Michael Russell MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on Wednesday 5 September.People of Medieval Scotland (PoMS)

The project offers free online access to more than 8,600 documents covering the period 1093-1314 with around 21,000 individuals mentioned.  Professor Dauvit Broun, who led the team which produced the resource said: “The period that these documents cover is one of the most fundamental times in Scotland’s past. This was an age where many of the methods and means of governing a country that we take for granted today were evolving and the Scotland of today was being forged. Understanding these documents is therefore hugely important in detailing the foundations of modern Scotland and how the name of ‘Scotland’ and ‘Scots’ came to apply to a distinct country and people.”

The Cabinet Secretary applauded PoMS, saying it was “A world class resource which will inform current and future historians and members of the public about this important period in Scottish history. Learning about our history, languages, literature and culture as well as connecting with Scotland as a place is a vital part of developing a confident, balanced and informed sense of citizenship with perspective on Scotland and our place in the world. It is therefore a pleasure to see partnership working between universities, schools and other key organisations to make this wonderful resource accessible throughout Scotland's education system and beyond.”

People of Medieval Scotland was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and involved academics from the University of Glasgow and the Universities of Edinburgh, Lancaster and of King’s College, London

The site can be accessed via this link – but be warned, it can addictive!

http://www.poms.ac.uk/

First published: 10 September 2012

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