Bagpipes in History
Historically, the bagpipes are thought to be first traced back to pre-medieval times, possibly as far back as 1,300BC. There are clues to their existence at these times both in texts and pictures from that time. The pipes stand in famed company in history with many believing that Nero of the Roman Empire was a fan and player of the pipes.
More solid evidence of their existence appears more frequently after 1000 AD. Appearing in the UK in Pictures and texts such as The Canterbury Tales of 1380. Although examples of the actual physical bagpipes from anytime before the 18th century are extremely rare, there is a great deal of evidence of their existence in illustrations, carvings and engravings. In Ireland the bagpipes are clearly depicted in the painting of John Derrick that shows a fallen piper at a battle.
In more recent history the expansion of the British army, which included Highland regiments, is thought to have brought the bagpipes to many cultures. After the two world wars the highland bagpipes became increasingly popular over the more traditional variations of the pipes of the locals. Many police and army regiments around the world have formed pipe bands featuring the bagpipes.
Examples of this include police forces in Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the USA and Australia. The Highland Bagpipes have also been spread through the military forces into Uganda, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Oman. Although greatly popular the spread of the Highland bagpipes very nearly wiped out the local versions of the pipes and it is only recently that cultures have began to revive their own culturally significant variations.