[Resources] The Island of St. Kilda

St. Kilda is an island off the coast of Scotland once inhabited by a hearty people. For two thousand years it had a small population, usually less than 200. In 1930 it was permanently evacuated at the islanders request. Life on the island was hard, with the islanders dealing with isolation for much of the year and very primitive conditions.

The island has the ruins of a medieval village, about 30 houses in all. And several structures date back to 500 B.C. From the first writings on the island in 1202 to the modern day, the island has had a number of busts and further busts. Danish artifacts from a Viking history, smallpox and cholera, poor harvests, Christian missionaries, and the loss of the young men during WWI, the island has seen it all. St. Kilda now is part of the National Trust for Scotland and one of Scotland's five World Heritage sites, and, since 1957, has been part of the UK military.

The history of this island is the history of the North Atlantic and would be a great study for a Viking game or even a modern day naval game or any game with islands and isolation.