when was macbeth set

Macbeth is set mainly in 11th-century Scotland, specifically around the years 1040 to 1057. The play portrays events in medieval Scotland during the reign of the historical Macbeth, who was king during this period. Key locations include Scottish castles like Inverness, Forres, and Fife, while some brief scenes also take place in England. The setting's dark, cold, and isolated nature reflects the gloomy and ominous atmosphere of the play. Although Shakespeare wrote Macbeth around 1606 during the Jacobean era, the story itself is situated in this earlier medieval Scottish period, with some historical liberties taken for dramatic purposes.