The key organising dates for this book are the covenanting revolution of 1638 and the Glorious Revolution of 1689. Here, the book develops several core themes. One is regional and local: the book looks at the Highlands and the Anglo-Scottish Borders. The increasing importance of money in politics and the growing commercialisation of Scottish society is a further theme addressed. Chapters discuss central government and illustrate the growth of the state. A third theme is political thought and the world of ideas. The two revolutions at the heart of the book were definitely Scottish, even though they were affected by events elsewhere. This is Scottish history, but Scottish history which recognises and is informed by a British context where appropriate.