Scotland area. History of Scotland. Legendary kings of the Picts
![Scotland area. History of Scotland. Legendary kings of the Picts](https://i1.wp.com/krugosvet.ru/sites/krugosvet.ru/files/img14/ph01768.jpg)
The content of the article
SCOTLAND, country occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Separated from England mainly by the Cheviot Hills and the Tweed River. To the west of Scotland, on the other side of the North Channel (St. Patrick's Channel), is Northern Ireland. The southern coast of Scotland faces the Irish Sea and the Solway Firth. Scotland's borders have remained unchanged for almost 500 years.
Scotland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. However, the political status of Scotland is not noted in this title. Although Scotland was never an autonomous or federal unit of Great Britain and is no longer a kingdom, it is not simply a geographical or administrative area. Scotland can be considered as a separate country. The Scots defend their national identity and preserve many institutions that do not exist in England and other English-speaking countries. They have their capital Edinburgh, their church, laws and courts, their banks and banknotes. In Scotland, cities are called burghs (as opposed to boroughs in England), and their mayors are called provosts (in England - mayors); sheriffs there are judges who receive a salary, and not honorary dignitaries, as in England.
Peculiar institutions have been preserved in Scotland since ancient times, when it was a sovereign state. For a long time, attempts have been made to unite Scotland and England. Many of them were acts of armed aggression on the part of England. The Scots for a long time successfully repelled the invaders, which contributed to the strengthening of national identity. In 1603, when, after the death of Elizabeth I, the Scottish king James VI peacefully established himself on the English throne, both countries found themselves under the rule of one monarch, but each retained its own parliament and its own governing bodies. Then, in accordance with the Act of Union 1707, Scotland and England joined the United Kingdom of Great Britain with a single parliament and central government.
However, even after 1707 Scotland retained its identity, as some of its institutions were clearly defined by the Act of Union, and in very recent years there has been a tendency towards decentralization of government, with many government functions transferred to individual Scottish departments.
Although in terms of area (78,772 sq. km) Scotland is more than half the area of England and Wales combined (151,126 thousand sq. km), its population in 1991 numbered only 4,989 thousand people versus 49,890 thousand in England and Wales . In the 20th century In Scotland, there have been significant changes in the distribution of the population: increased migration to cities, where 9 out of every 10 Scots now live. In the mountains and islands, the population density does not exceed 12 people per 1 sq. km. However, at present, the centers of population growth are not large cities, but their suburban areas.
Nature.
The character of the Scottish people and their way of life were largely influenced by the natural environment: due to the predominance of mountains and hills, only 1/5 of the territory was suitable for agriculture. In the south, the South Scottish Highlands are bordered on almost all sides by coastal lowlands and river valleys. The Scottish Lowlands, which cross the country between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde, have a high level of industrialization. To the north of this belt, a wide plain can be traced almost along the entire eastern coast; agriculture is developed in several large river valleys. Only in the most fertile lands in the south and east - in the valley of Tweed, County Ayr, Lothian, the county north of the Firth of Tay, parts of Aberdeen and on both banks of the Moray Firth - does intensive farming bring very high incomes.
Scotland has widespread rocky hills and moors, and its central and western regions are dominated by mountains. The highest point, Mount Ben Nevis in the Grampian Mountains, reaches only 1343 m, several other peaks rise above 1200 m. However, there are approx. 300 peaks exceeding 900 m, and many mountains make an impressive impression, rising almost from the very seashore. There are no clearly defined ridges in the mountains of Scotland; when viewed from above, a mass of randomly dispersed peaks is revealed, separated by deep narrow valleys called glen, or elongated narrow lochs. The valley of Glen Mawr, containing three lochs (Loch Ness, Loch Lochy and Loch Linne) and continuing into submarine valleys at either end, is distinguished by its rectilinear outline; it extends from southwest to northeast and divides the whole of the Highlands of Scotland into two parts. Throughout this dissected area there are frequent outcrops of bedrock, and only in the lower parts of the mountain slopes and in the glens are there pastures and arable lands. In the last quarter of the 20th century. In Scotland, extensive afforestation was carried out.
The coasts of Scotland are heavily dissected. In the west, loch bays, which have a fjord-like character, penetrate deeply into the central part of the mountainous country. Off the coast of Scotland there is approx. 500 islands united into archipelagos. The most significant of these is the Hebrides, which includes the large islands of Lewis (1,990 sq km) and Skye (1,417 sq km), along with grassy cliffs suitable for grazing a few sheep. The northern archipelagos - Orkney and Shetland - have 150 islands of varying sizes. Both the western and northern islands have a variety of landscapes; there are very fertile areas along with completely barren bedrock outcrops. In contrast, there are very few large islands off the east coast of Scotland. Here steep ledges, alternating with sandy beaches, face the North Sea. In the past, the days of small sailing ships, there were many small ports on the east coast, mainly at the mouths of rivers. Through these ports, Scotland's trade relations with the neighboring countries of Northern Europe were mainly carried out. In the 18th century, when Scotland began to trade with America, the deep-sea estuary of the Clyde River became the country's main trade artery.
Transport problems have always largely depended on the terrain. Until good roads were built (late 18th century), small loads were transported by horse, while heavy or bulky loads had to be transported by sea from one port to another. Soon the era of railroads began, which greatly facilitated transportation in more populated areas located at lower altitudes. However, in the highlands in the west and north of Scotland, the construction of railways was difficult, and the main mode of transport remained steamship traffic along the sea coast and along the lochs. Currently, road transport is of predominant importance. Many railway lines were dismantled, and steamship flights were cancelled. Air travel is limited, only between the UK and some islands, but is hampered by fog and strong winds.
The climate of Scotland is typical maritime. Average January temperature approx. 4° C, July – 14° C. There are differences between the open west coast and the more sheltered eastern coast, the latter characterized by colder winters and warmer summers. The west receives much more rainfall. The average annual rate for all of Scotland is 1300 mm per year, but on some exposed western slopes it rises to 3800 mm.
Population and lifestyle.
The population of Scotland was the result of a mixture of several races. The earliest inhabitants of the country were the Caledonians, or Picts, who inhabited most of the territory located north of the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. In the southwest lived the Britons, related to the Welsh. In Argyll approx. 500 AD An Irish colony was founded, and at the same time the English left the European continent and landed in the southeast of Great Britain. In the 8th–11th centuries. The Scandinavians visited almost the entire coast of Scotland, but settled in the north and west. In the 12th century Normans and Flemings appeared there. Many Irish immigrants arrived in the 19th century. Migration processes between England and Scotland proceeded in a similar way.
Residents of the plains and mountaineers.
The main difference is between the lowlanders, who have a mixed ethnogenesis and have spoken English for centuries, and the highlanders, who are mainly of Celtic origin and until recently spoke Gaelic. In the 11th century Gaelic was spoken in almost all parts of Scotland, but subsequently its area of distribution narrowed significantly. In the 1960s there were no more than 80,000 Gaelic speakers, almost all of whom lived in the Western Highlands and Islands and also spoke English.
There were more than just linguistic differences between the Highlanders and Lowland Scots. Important differences remained between the predominantly agricultural (later predominantly industrial) economy of the plains and the predominantly pastoral economy of the mountains. In addition, the specificity of land use, with the population concentrated in glens separated by mountains, apparently favored the cohesion of some clans. As a result, until the 18th century. The highlanders could not be completely converted into law-abiding subjects of the kingdom.
Religion.
Many Scots are Presbyterians and their religious life takes place within the framework of the Church of Scotland. Adherents of this church make up 2/3 of all believers, and it enjoys strong influence almost everywhere. The heresies and schisms that plagued Scottish Presbyterians in the 18th and 19th centuries have been largely overcome. The two surviving Presbyterian minorities, the Free Church and the Free Presbyterian Church, have their adherents predominantly in some of the highlands and western islands, where their highly conservative teachings retain their popular appeal.
The Reformation triumphed in most of the country, and at the end of the 17th century. There were only about 12 thousand Catholics left in Scotland, who lived mainly in the mountains, in the west of the main island and on one or two small islands. Up to the 19th century. The Roman Catholic Church only sought to strengthen its influence in these areas. However, Irish immigration, especially during the famine years of the 1840s, contributed to the growth of the Catholic population in the industrial areas, mainly around Glasgow. Currently there are about 800 thousand Catholics in the country. In the 18th century The position of the Anglican Church strengthened in areas located north of the Tey River. Nowadays its role has weakened, with the exception of the small landed nobility, whose authority outside the cities is small.
Culture.
In Scotland, education has long been under the control of the church. During the Middle Ages, schools were created at cathedrals or other churches, which were run by city councils. At the same time, the church organized three universities in Scotland - in St. Andrews (1410), Glasgow (1451) and Aberdeen (1494). The University of Edinburgh was founded shortly after the Reformation (1583); four more universities were added in the 1960s - Strathclyde in Glasgow, Heriot-Watt in Edinburgh, Dundee and Stirling. Several parliamentary acts of the 17th century. called for the establishment of schools in every parish, but in remote areas this idea was put into practice without much haste. In the 18th – early 19th centuries. in addition to the parish system, schools were established by voluntary societies until the whole country was completely covered by educational institutions. In 1872 the old order was replaced by a state system and schooling became compulsory. Scottish tradition did not encourage the creation of private schools under the leadership of school boards, but schools in the country were very diverse until the late 1800s.
Sport.
The national sport in Scotland is football, but it is played mainly by professionals. Scotland is the birthplace of golf, and the sandy east coast offers great facilities for the game. In the mountains they play children's hockey, similar to regular hockey. Highlander costumes add color to sports competitions, which, together with bagpipe competitions, are regularly held in the mountainous regions.
Farming.
Scotland is a predominantly industrial country. Businesses are concentrated in the Lowlands of Scotland between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. The main industrial centers - Edinburgh and Glasgow - are located in this same strip. Both ancient (steel, printing and brewing) and relatively new industries (petrochemical, electronics and automotive) are represented here. In addition, shipbuilding and general engineering are developed in the Clydeside region, which includes the Glasgow metropolitan area.
Light industry is partly concentrated in the cities of Dundee and Aberdeen, located on the east coast north of the Firth of Forth. Aberdeen processes oil from fields in the North Sea. Industry Dundee specializes in the production of jute, watches, refrigerators and electronic equipment. Most of the famous whiskey distilleries are located in north-east Scotland. For many years clothing and textiles, especially tweed, were produced in the valleys of the South Scottish Highlands, the northern Highlands and the islands. Nuclear power stations are located on the banks of the Firth of Clyde and Solway Firth and on the northern coast.
Agriculture is predominantly concentrated on the eastern coastal plain. Among the main crops there are barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, turnips and sugar beets. 3/4 of Scotland's agricultural area is used for pasture. Sheep are raised in the hilly areas of the northwest, and cattle are raised in the plains of the northeast. The southwest is an important dairy farming region.
Government structure and politics.
Administratively, Scotland has been divided into 12 regions since 1975, including 53 counties and 3 island territories (Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland). The districts usually correspond to the former counties, or shires, that existed before 1975. Councils are elected to govern the districts, districts and island territories.
The Scottish Parliament is passing some laws that are constantly in force throughout the UK. Other laws relate partly to Scotland and others apply entirely to Scotland, and differences in judicial proceedings, administrative procedures etc. are taken into account when discussing them.
Until the 1970s, the idea of local government had little success in Scotland. However, in the early 1970s the discovery of oil fields in the North Sea stimulated Scottish nationalism, and in the 1974 general election the Scottish National Party won a third of the vote in Scotland and 11 seats in the British House of Commons. In 1978, Parliament adopted a bill for direct elections of the Scottish Assembly in Edinburgh, giving it greater powers in internal affairs. However, in the 1979 referendum this project did not receive popular support.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Scotland continued to struggle for its place in the overall political context of the United Kingdom. The country retains national characteristics in religion, legal structure, language (called Scots) and education system. Scotland has its own original culture, a highly developed and recently expanded university system, and its own press.
Despite the existence of a Scottish Ministry, headed by a Scottish Secretary in Edinburgh, and two reorganizations of local government, in 1973 and 1995, this integral part of the UK leads a fairly separate political life, which in turn has internal regional characteristics. Firstly, there is the Glasgow and Clyde Estuary area to the south east. In this developed industrial area, about 40% of Scotland's total population of five million lives, a significant part of the heavy industry is located and there are quite a lot of social problems associated with a lack of housing, rising crime, poverty and unemployment. Traditionally trade unionist, Catholics, mainly Irish, form an influential minority in Glasgow and the Strathclyde area. The combination of these socio-demographic features fuels a strong and consistent electorate for the Labor Party.
The rest of Scotland is politically distinct from this region. In most constituencies there are three or four parties competing equally for the vote - Labour, the Conservatives, the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats, although Labor has traditionally been strong in urban areas such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
In London, Scotland is represented by 72 members of the House of Commons, but their influence is believed to be small in the 659-member parliament. At the May 1997 general election, all major parties except the Conservatives campaigned for a significant change in Scotland's position in the United Kingdom. Labor won 56, the Liberal Democrats 10, the Scottish National Party 6 votes, while the Conservatives did not win a single seat, although 17.5% of the population voted for them.
After this, in a referendum, 70.4% of Scots voted in favor of the formation of a Scottish Assembly with limited powers, which will be convened in Edinburgh in July 1999. A slightly smaller number of Scots who took part in the referendum (but also a majority) supported the proposal to give the Assembly some rights in tax sphere.
Labor supported the idea of an Assembly in the hope of ending Scottish dissatisfaction with the existing constitutional status of their country. The measures submitted to the referendum were also approved by the Scottish National Party, which regarded them as the first step towards full independence. It should be noted that Scottish nationalists favor continued membership in the European Union and are not as radical in matters of preserving culture and language as their counterparts in Wales.
STORY
Roman period.
For thirty years after 80 AD. and again around 140–180 AD. Roman troops occupied southern Scotland. They defended the line along the Forth of the Clyde against the Caledonians, or Picts, a warlike people who inhabited the northern territories. To achieve this, the Romans built fortifications during the first occupation and a defensive rampart during the second occupation. Around 84 and again around 208 they penetrated north to the Moray Firth, but left no military settlements beyond the Firth of Forth. Having lost control of southern Scotland for the first time, they erected the so-called. Hadrian's Wall, built after 120 between the River Tyne and the Solway Firth, which long served as the boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain. However, the rampart was unable to contain the Picts, who repeatedly invaded territories in southern Britain. In the 3rd–4th centuries. many tribes of southern Scotland became allies of Rome.
Christianization.
St. Ninian began his missionary work in the southwest of the island ca. 400; other missionaries are said to have preached among the Picts in the north, but not further than the Moray Firth, but the Christianization of Scotland is usually dated to the arrival of St. Columbus in 563. The conversion took place during the migration of the Scots from northern Ireland, where Christianity had dominated since the beginning of the 5th century, to the Hebrides and western Scotland. Columba himself settled in a monastery on the island of Iona near the southwestern tip of the island of Malla. Not limiting himself to his brothers in faith - the Scots in the west - Columba eventually managed to convert the king of the Picts in Inverness to the Christian faith. Over time, the Irish form of Christianity, with its distinctive rites and organization, came into direct conflict with Roman Christianity, which was spreading north from Kent. At the synod of Whitby (663 or 664), the king of Northumbria, after hearing the partisans of the rival rites, decided in favor of Rome, and his verdict was later accepted throughout the territory north of the Cheviot Hills; Iona eventually capitulated c. 720. The replacement of Irish rites by Roman ones had a profound influence on the history of Scotland, since thereby the country was annexed to the general stream of history of European civilization.
Other influences.
With the end of the Roman occupation of Britain, the Tyne-Solway wall ceased to be an insurmountable obstacle, and eventually two kingdoms were formed that were located on both sides of the wall - Strathclyde in the west and Northumbria in the east. To the north lay the kingdoms of the Picts and Scots, the former occupying most of the country north of the Clyde Forth straits, and the latter part of the west coast and the Hebrides. The expansion of the English kingdom of Northumbria to the north, reaching as far as the River Forth, met strong resistance from the Picts, who defeated the Northumbrian army in 685 at the Battle of Nechtansmere. The danger of invasion diminished somewhat after the place of the Angles was occupied in the 8th century. Scandinavians, as the new settlers in Northumbria were more concerned with expanding south and west than north. However, the capture of the northern territories became the goal of the Scandinavian tribes who arrived by sea. The Normans conquered island after island, first in the Shetland and Orkney Islands, and then in the Hebrides; Afterwards they spread throughout the north and west of Scotland. Traces of the Norman conquest are still visible, especially in Orkney, Shetland and Caithness, which served as the center of concentration of the conquering forces. During the 11th and 12th centuries. The power of the Normans gradually decreased, and the power of the kingdom of the Scots increased. Nevertheless, the Normans retained dominance over the western islands until 1266, and only in 1468–1469 Orkney and Shetland were returned to Scotland after the marriage between Princess Margaretha and James III.
Scottish kingdom.
Meanwhile, in 844 the Scots and Picts were formally united under the rule of King Kenneth MacAlpin. During the 10th century. the rulers of this united kingdom tried, and not without success, to recapture Lothian from Northumbria and establish complete dominance over Strathclyde. The implementation of these claims occurred during the reign of Malcolm II (1005–1034). However, no sooner had Malcolm's grandson Duncan I taken the throne in 1034 than Macbeth of Moray seized the throne and held it until he was killed in 1057 by Malcolm III. Duncan I's son Malcolm III was exiled in England and later married the Anglo-Saxon princess Margaret. They and their sons brought the English way of life to Scotland. The system of monasteries and parishes developed, and a feudal system of the Norman type was established. This caused resistance in the Highlands, where opposition forces rallied around Moray. However, time passed, and the kingdom continued to exist, cities grew, trade developed, and England's attempts to subjugate Scotland met resistance and were successfully repulsed. The period from 1153 to 1286 is called Scotland's Golden Age.
Fight with England.
A long and relatively quiet and fruitful period came to an abrupt end with the death in 1290 of Margaret, the "Maid of Norway", who became heir to the Scottish throne. She was to marry the son and heir of Edward I, King of England. To avoid a civil war for the throne, Edward was asked to act as an arbitrator. He chose John Baliol, who was crowned in 1292, but only after recognizing Edward as his overlord. Repenting of what he had done, Baliol, with the help of the French, tried to get rid of his addiction, but the uprising was suppressed. In 1297, at Stirling Bridge, the English were challenged by William Wallace, and this time the Scots were victorious. However, Wallace, unable to reconcile his divergent interests, was eventually deceived and handed over to Edward. The banner of rebellion was again raised by Robert I (Bruce) in 1306. For several years he pursued a policy of exhausting the troops of Edward II, and then, in 1314, at Bannockburn, he dealt the most crushing blow ever received by English troops on Scottish soil. In 1320, in a letter to the pope, the Scots stated; “As long as at least one hundred Scots remain alive, we will not submit to the English king.” Despite this declaration of independence, it was only in 1328 that England, at the peace treaty of Northampton, agreed to recognize King Robert, and in 1329 the pope finally recognized the sovereignty of the Scottish kingdom.
Instability and war.
The war with England did not stop, and this led to the impoverishment of the population of Scotland. In addition, the country suffered from the ineffective rule of kings that were either too young or too old, and periods of strong rule lasted too short to allow stability to be established during this time. The chiefs of the Highlands and the barons of the lower lands, as well as the church, having all the wealth and influence in Scotland, were enemies of the monarchy. Although the citizens of the cities had held seats in Parliament since the reign of Robert I, the country had nothing like the English House of Commons to provide a counterbalance to the lords and prelates. During the Hundred Years' War, Scotland became an ally of the French. The result forged important cultural ties with the continent, but it involved Scotland in a series of military adventures. The economic, administrative and intellectual development of the country that took place under James IV ended after his invasion of England and death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
The Reformation and the end of the Anglo-Scottish wars.
One of the lessons of the defeat at Flodden was that traditional ties with France posed considerable danger to Scotland. At the same time, the advent of the Reformation era added another reason for revising the country's foreign policy. The Scots, influenced by Lutheranism, believed that Scotland should ally with Henry VIII after he rejected papal authority and dissolved the monasteries. James V, however, did not follow Henry's example. Instead, he took advantage of the situation and received financial benefits in exchange for loyalty to the pope. In addition, he strengthened relations with France by marrying two French women in succession, the second of whom was Marie of Guise. The result of his policy was a war with England and the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542, after which James soon died.
Before Mary came of age, who inherited the throne at the age of one week, the dominance of Scotland was contested by a Frenchman and an Englishman, each of whom had many supporters among the Scots. Henry VIII supported the Scottish reformers and plotted the assassination of Cardinal David Beaton, who favored the alliance with France. George Wishart, a Protestant preacher associated with the English, was burned at the stake as a heretic by Beaton, who was also killed shortly after. The English, having failed to secure the engagement of the Scottish queen to Prince Edward (later Edward VI), carried out devastating raids in the south of Scotland and as a result ensured that Scotland fell into French hands. Maria was sent to France (1548) and became engaged to the Dauphin. She married him in 1558, and he became king of France under the name Francis II. In Scotland, Mary of Guise became regent in 1554 and ruled the country, respecting the interests of France and relying on French troops.
The Reformation movement in Scotland was now combined with patriotic resistance to French domination and the fear that Scotland would henceforth be ruled by a dynasty of French monarchs. In 1559, upon the return of John Knox from Geneva, an uprising broke out, directed both against the French and against Rome. Troops sent by Elizabeth prevented a French suppression of the rebels, and the death of Mary of Guise (June 1560) opened the way for a treaty by which English and French soldiers would leave Scotland.
Mary, Queen of Scots.
The reformers were in power in 1560, but in August 1561 Queen Mary, who had lost her husband Francis in December 1560, returned to Scotland. Being a Catholic, she initially did not feel hostility towards the reformed church. However, Mary could not be the head of the new church, the leadership of which was mainly in the hands of administrators, or new bishops, and the supreme power belonged to the General Assembly, which was practically a Protestant parliament. Mary declared that she had a better claim to the English throne than Elizabeth, and after marrying her cousin, Lord Darnley, who followed her in succession to the English throne and whose claims were recognized by English Catholics, the reformed Church ceased to be in her favor. After Darnley's murder, Mary married the Earl of Bothwell, who was believed to be the murderer of her second husband. A rebellion broke out and Mary was deposed. The crown passed to her minor son, James VI. Mary fled to England in 1568 under the protection of Elizabeth. She was imprisoned until the Queen of England ordered her execution in 1587.
James VI.
The period before James VI came of age was marked by civil war waged by his regents against his mother's supporters, and by the intrigues of Rome, supported by European powers. In addition, within the framework of the reformed church, a Presbyterian movement arose, demanding the abolition of bishops and the transfer of church governance into the hands of elders. Presbyterians denied the king and parliament any power over the church and argued that the highest elders should determine the policy of the state. Jacob pursued a cunning, flexible and consistent policy in his relations with rival factions. For some time he had to rely on the Presbyterians and in 1592 agreed to the proclamation of Presbyterianism as the state church. However, after the defeat of the last Catholic revolt in 1594, he began to insist on maintaining and strengthening the posts of bishops along with the ecclesiastical courts. James forced Andrew Melville into exile and established tight control over the church, but did not interfere with the actual theological issues that had been discussed since the beginning of the Reformation. This compromise was generally accepted, especially after James reconciled the nobles and landowners and found support in the relatively conservative northern territories, where Presbyterianism had not yet taken deep roots. When James took the English throne in 1603, it did not unite the parliaments or government of the two countries, but it strengthened his own position, so that he made the Scots respect the law and was able to rule more effectively than any of his predecessors.
Charles I.
Charles I lacked the tact that characterized his father; his actions were not distinguished by patience and flexibility and led to the fact that many of his subjects turned away from him. James did not dispute the rights to the former church property seized after the outbreak of the Reformation. Charles began his reign (1625–1649) by questioning these rights, and in subsequent years cherished plans to restore the income of the old church. He went even further than his father in manipulating Parliament by means that were considered unconstitutional; established taxes, which were considered exorbitant, and gave political functions to bishops. Finally, regardless of criticism and opposition, Charles introduced new church canons, which threatened to replace the existing compromise with a system identical to the Anglican one, and a new church missal, which was rejected by already inflamed public opinion as Roman Catholic. As a result, the National Covenant was signed (1638), which stated that the king had acted illegally, and the Presbyterian Church was soon re-accepted as official.
The Civil War and Oliver Cromwell.
Charles resisted the increasing influence of the Scots, but he was not strong enough to bring them to heel. The Scots' turn to arms and their occupation of northern England forced him to convene the Long Parliament. After the outbreak of the civil war, the Covenanters, who had power over Scotland, following the Solemn League and Covenant (1643), agreed to help the English parliament in the fight against the king on the condition that Presbyterianism would become the state church not only in Scotland, but also in England. However, when the royal forces were defeated, power in England passed not to Parliament, but to Cromwell and the army, who shared not Presbyterian, but Independent views on church government. Then the Scots, or rather some of the Scots, tried to restore the reign of Charles I, and after his execution they placed Charles II on their throne on the condition that he sign the covenants. The result was the defeat of the Scots at Dunbar (1650) and Worcester (1651) and the conquest of the country by the English. During the period of the Republic and Protectorate, Scotland was united with England, sent deputies to English parliaments and conducted free trade with England and the English colonies.
Restoration and Glorious Revolution.
The Stuart Restoration (1660) aimed to restore the pre-war system of government and the terms of the religious compromise reached under James VI. There was some political opposition in the country, since Scottish politicians and parliament were no longer as obedient as in the days before 1648. Although the restoration was accepted in the country, serious discontent was brewing in some areas, especially in the south-west, among those strict Presbyterians , who advocated the implementation of the National Covenant and the Solemn League. A policy of alternating reconciliation and suppression reduced the degree of discontent, and the Bothwell Bridge rebellion (1679) was brutally suppressed, but a handful of extremists remained and eventually refused to recognize the English king.
James VII (James II of England) was mainly concerned with the issue of restoring the status of Roman Catholicism. His principle of toleration extended not only to Catholics, but also to Presbyterians, which undermined the official status of the Episcopal Church maintained by his predecessors. The policy of toleration was so unpopular that Parliament refused to sanction it, and it had to be carried out solely by the will of the king. The result was a general aversion to royal power. Thus, when the English Revolution of 1688 led to the flight of James and the rise of William of Orange, James had little chance of remaining on the Scottish throne. In 1689 he was declared deprived of the right to the crown. The campaign of John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, ended at Killecrankie, and William's rule was established in Scotland. The bishops and most of the clergy were loyal to James, so William relied on the Presbyterians, whose church was finally declared state (1690). One of the results of William's determination to break the resistance of the Highlanders was the famous Glencoe massacre of 1692.
Darien.
In the 17th century The country was going through a period of transformation. Since the reign of James VI, Scotland has increasingly become an advanced country with a developed economy and culture; economic projects aroused the ardent enthusiasm of the population, new incentives for production and commerce appeared; attempts were made to colonize new lands - in Nova Scotia, eastern New Jersey and South Carolina. Scotland's economic interests differed from those of England. The free trade regime with England ended with the beginning of the Restoration, when, according to the Navigation Act, the Scots were excommunicated from trading with the English colonies. As a result, serious tensions arose between the countries. Until the Revolution of 1688, crises were avoided because the king was able to keep the Scottish Parliament under control. After the revolution, parliament gained independence and showed its freedom-loving character precisely when the power of the English parliament increased. Under these conditions, the Scots decided to carry out an ambitious project to create their own colony in Darien, and this project received widespread support and financial resources. Darien nominally belonged to Spain, with which William was conducting difficult negotiations at that time. For this reason, he refused to support the idea of a Scottish colony and forbade English subjects to provide any assistance to the Scots in this enterprise. The colony venture ended in disaster, partly due to the epidemic, and partly due to the resistance of the Spaniards. The Scots blamed William for everything, and the attitude towards England became even more hostile. It became clear that the only hope for progress in trade lay in Scotland's access to markets in England and the English colonies.
Union with England.
William understood that the difficulties inevitable in the current circumstances could be overcome with the help of a union of the two kingdoms and the creation of a single parliament, but the Scots did not like the idea of subordination to England, and the British did not at all want to give up trading rights to the Scots. However, after 1701 England entered the War of the Spanish Succession with France, and the Scots took advantage of the situation by threatening to pursue an independent foreign policy and even choose their own monarch. Under the threat of the emergence of an independent Scotland with the support of France, the British were forced to yield, and in 1707 an act of union was adopted, according to which the Scots renounced their political independence. Scotland received representation in London - 45 seats in the lower house and 16 peerage seats in the House of Lords; it was also decided that after the death of Queen Anne, the countries would receive a monarch from the House of Hanover. In return, the Scots received equal trading rights with the English, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland was declared inviolable, and Scottish laws and the judicial system remained independent from the English. In practice, appeals in civil cases could be made, after hearings in the Scottish High Court, to the British House of Lords. In all other cases the decisions of the Scottish courts were final.
Jacobite uprisings.
For more than 40 years after the Union, there was considerable dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in Scotland, the Scots felt that their interests were being ignored by the British Parliament, and the expected economic benefits were not producing very rich results. However, the Jacobite uprisings in 1715 and 1745, which aimed at the restoration of the descendants of James VII and James II, cannot in any way be considered a Scottish national resistance movement; they attracted little attention from the inhabitants of central Scotland, receiving a response only from Episcopalians and Catholics. In the north, where economic and social development was not as vigorous as in other areas, and the situation was determined by the rivalry of clans and the willingness to join any occupation that provided the opportunity for robbery, a sufficiently large number of leaders attracted their clans to the side of the Jacobites, who as a result received reinforcements in 5–10 thousand soldiers. The uprising of 1715 led by Count Mar ended in failure; the "senior pretender" James VIII joined him at a time when it was already suppressed. During the uprising of 1745, the "junior pretender" Charles Edward landed in Scotland, proclaimed his father king, took Edinburgh and invaded England, reaching Derby. There, however, he did not receive any support and retreated to the north, where he was finally defeated at Culloden (1746), which put an end to the claims of the Stuarts. The Highlanders' defeat was applauded by the people of central Scotland. Dissatisfaction with the union faded, and over the next century it was welcomed by almost the entire population of the country.
Scotland after union.
Economic development.
Over time, the union brought obvious economic benefits. Scottish ports, especially those along the banks of the Clyde, imported tobacco from America; To meet the needs of the colonists for industrial products, enterprises were formed, primarily flax spinning factories. The British monopoly on the tobacco trade ended with the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, but industrial development in Scotland continued. From the end of the 18th century. The most important industry in the west of the country was cotton spinning and cotton weaving, which flourished until the American Civil War cut off the supply of raw cotton. The cotton industry in Scotland has not recovered since then, but the development of heavy industry began, based on the country's reserves of coal and iron. The invention of the hot blast method (1828) revolutionized Scottish metallurgy, and Scotland became a center of engineering, shipbuilding and transport engineering. By the end of the 19th century. steel took the place of iron. Scotland, which throughout the 17th century. was mainly an agricultural country, acquired an industrial belt stretching across the entire country from the southwest to the northeast, where most of the population lived. Agriculture also received significant development after the union, its level remained high, although in the second half of the 19th century, when Britain began to pursue a policy of free trade, imports of food products had a very negative impact on local agricultural production. Industrial development, bringing with it employment and prosperity, occurred so rapidly that housing construction, urban expansion and health care systems lagged behind, and for some time living conditions in some cities remained at extremely low levels.
The predominant development of heavy industry began to bring losses after the Second World War, when industrialization processes in other countries deprived Scottish industry of markets. Within Great Britain itself, production was centralized, and industry moved further and further south, leaving Scotland in the position of an industrial outskirts. As a result, the entire interwar period was a time of depression, and the world crisis of 1931 was only its most acute phase. After World War II, old heavy industries declined, and the government provided financial assistance to new industries, from nuclear plants and oil refineries to light manufacturing.
Public administration.
The unification of parliaments was followed a few years later by an almost complete unification of government systems. As the role of the state strengthened in the 19th century. Separate Scottish councils for poor affairs, education, health, agriculture and fisheries were established. The post of Scottish Secretary was created in 1885, and when the Scottish Office was established in 1926, most of the previous councils were replaced by its departments. After 1850, dissatisfaction with unification, at least in its established forms, was occasionally expressed, and proposals were put forward for a separate Scottish Parliament and a reorganization of Great Britain on the basis of federalism. Currently, the Scottish National Party, which arose in the 1970s, exists and is active. The government's proposal for a Scottish Parliament with the right to resolve local issues was put to a referendum in Scotland in September 1997. The vast majority of citizens voting (74%) approved the proposal, and 63% of voters approved the right of Parliament to raise or reduce taxes within 3%.
Church.
The Church of Scotland retained its Presbyterian organization, guaranteed by the Act of Union. The problem of reconciling Presbyterian claims to independence from Parliament with the legitimate authority of the British Parliament caused constant difficulties and led to splits and the formation of sects. The controversy culminated in the schism of 1843, when the Free Church of Scotland was formed. At the end of the 19th century, however, a tendency towards reunification emerged, and from 1929 the Church of Scotland had a very small minority of Presbyterians in its ranks. The Episcopal Church, which lost official status in 1690, continued to exist under difficult conditions throughout the 18th century. and still represents a separate religious organization. Roman Catholicism virtually disappeared at the beginning of the 17th century. and throughout the 18th century. enjoyed influence only in a few highland areas, but the influx of Irish and Scotland in the 19th century. caused a serious strengthening of the position of Catholics.
Education reforms.
Reformers hatched plans for a comprehensive education system, which included the establishment of schools at all levels, including in all parishes. Since 1616, there was a legislative basis for parish schools, however, despite significant successes, the new laws on education were never implemented. The schools, funded by local landlords, were under the control of the church. In addition, efforts were made independently of the church, thanks to which in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Scotland had greater educational opportunities than any other country at the time (even before compulsory school attendance was introduced in 1872). Universities opened their doors to young men from all social classes and at the end of the 18th century. won considerable fame. People educated in Scotland achieved the highest positions in England, and the Scots managed to reach the peaks of intellectual and cultural development in the works of such outstanding people as David Hume, Adam Smith and Walter Scott.
Anglicization.
During almost three centuries of political union, many factors brought the Scots closer to the English in their way of life. At the end of the 18th century, when the interests of the Scots were affected first by the American War of Independence and then by the French Revolution, the country's political awakening occurred, and the Scots began to take an active part in British parliamentary politics. Since the Napoleonic Wars, the Scots not only fought in the British army, but were loyal to Britain, and later fully shared the goals of British foreign policy and British military campaigns. The important role played by the Scots in the colonization and administration of the lands that made up the British Empire strengthened the partnership with England.
Delegation of power.
In Great Britain, the establishment and empowerment of government bodies subordinate to parliament at the level of the entire country as a whole or at the regional level is called delegation of power (devolution). Although Scottish voters in 1979 rejected the government's proposal to create a Scottish legislature that would devolve power over local affairs, they overwhelmingly approved the proposal in 1997. The reasons for the change of view lay not in any rise in Scottish nationalism, but in the excessive concentration of power in the hands of the cabinet in London.
4.2k (51 per week)
Scotland on the world map
Geographically, Scotland belongs to the Eurasian continent and, at the same time, is located on the British Isles, which are separated from the continent by 33 kilometers. Scotland accounts for one third of Great Britain, including the northern part. The country also includes about 800 large and small islands located in its waters. The most famous islands are the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Each of them differs in relief, vegetation and climatic features, the largest island is Lewis and Harris with an area of 2.2 thousand sq. km.
Scotland has a 95 km land border only with England. Scotland is separated from Ireland by the North Channel, which is 30 km wide at its narrowest point. Scotland's closest neighbors are Norway, 300 km away, Iceland 704 km and the Faroe Islands 270 km. In the west and north, Scotland is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, thanks to which the oceanic air masses provide the region with a temperate maritime climate.
Scotland's mainland coastline is 9,911 km., if we add the islands here, then in total the Scottish coast will be 16.5 thousand km long. If you look at a map of Scotland, you will notice how indented the western coast of the country is due to the presence of a large number of peninsulas and numerous bays, which, upon closer examination, vaguely resemble fjords. In the East, the coast is more smoothly contoured; this region is characterized by sandy beaches stretching for many kilometers, which are called mahirs due to the fact that they are almost completely covered with dune vegetation, grass and small shrubs. This coastal specificity appeared due to a sharp decrease in sea water levels.
Political geography of Scotland
The current area of mainland Scotland has not changed since 1237, when the area of its territory and borders were legalized by two treaties: the Treaty of York, to which England and Scotland were parties, and the Treaty of Perth (1266), concluded between Norway and Scotland. After this, changes in the territory of the country were associated with the transfer of the Isle of Man to the British and the annexation in 1472 of the once Norwegian islands of Orkney and Shetland. In addition, in 1482 the city of Berwick-upon-Tweed became part of England thanks to the monarch Richard III.
Throughout its history and until 1707, Scotland was an independent state, and only after the signing of the Act of Union did it become part of the Kingdom of Great Britain. From 1889 to 1975, Scotland administratively consisted of counties and burghs; since 1996, the country has been divided into 32 regions.
Being part of the United Kingdom, the “country of the Celts” was represented in the British Parliament by Scottish delegates. After the 1997 referendum, the Scots created an independent parliament, which is located in the capital - Edinburgh. Internal issues of the country relating to the economy, education, and management are resolved directly in the country. Britain retained responsibility regarding the defense of Scotland and its foreign policy vector.
The disputed territory of Scotland includes the uninhabited island of Roccole, located in the North Atlantic. In the mid-20th century, the atoll was annexed by Britain and declared part of Scotland in 1972, but disputes over Roccola's ownership continue to this day. The island's fisheries resources are so rich that they are claimed by the Danes, Icelanders and residents of the Republic of Ireland.
Estimate!
Give your rating!
Scotland(English and Scots. Scotland, Gaelic. Alba) - a country that is an autonomous administrative-political part. It occupies the northern part of the island of Great Britain and borders by land with. On other sides it is washed by the seas of the Atlantic Ocean: the North Sea in the east, the North Channel and the Irish Sea in the west and southwest. In addition to the territory on the main British island, Scotland also owns about 790 small islands, most of which are uninhabited.
Scotland's legal system has remained independent from those of England and Wales and thus has its own private and public laws. Following the 1997 referendum and the 1998 Scotland Act, the Scottish Parliament was restored in 1999. On September 18, 2014, a referendum on Scottish independence was held in the country, as a result of which 55.3% of voters expressed a desire to remain part of the UK. Following the referendum on leaving the European Union on 23 June 2016, when 62% of the Scottish population voted against leaving the EU (38% voted in favour), Scottish government decided to pursue its own independent foreign policy regarding the issue of maintaining the country's membership in the European Union.
Etymology of the name
The word Scotland comes from the Latin word Scoti, denoting the Gaels. In late Latin, under the word Scotia(“Land of the Gaels”) meant Ireland. By the 11th century, the word meant the part of Scotland located north of the River Forth. The modern territory of the country began to be called Scotland, and the people living on its territory - Scots in the Late Middle Ages.
Geography and nature
Physical map of Scotland
The territory of Scotland includes the northern third of the island of Great Britain and the adjacent islands - the Hebrides, and. The area of Scotland is 78,772 km², the length of the coastline is 9,911 km. In the south it borders with. The length of the border from the Solway Firth in the west to the Tweed River in the east is about 96 km. The island is located 30 km southwest of the coast, 400 km northeast, and north of Scotland lie.
The western coast of Scotland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the eastern coast by the North Sea. The western and eastern sea coasts of Scotland are connected by the Caledonian Canal, of which the famous Loch Ness is part.
Despite its very large area and a large number of untouched places, there are only two national parks in Scotland: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs (area 1,865 km², established in 2002) and the Cairngorms (area 4,528 km², established in 2003).
Climate
The climate is temperate oceanic. Thanks to the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream, temperatures in Scotland are higher than in countries lying on the same parallel (than, for example, in), but lower than in other regions of the UK. Due to the uneven surface topography, the weather is extremely unstable. During the coldest months of the year - January and February - the average temperature maximum is 5-7 °C. In the warmest months - July and August - 19 °C. Average annual precipitation ranges from 3,000 mm in the north to 800 mm in the south. The region is characterized by southwest winds and frequent storms on the coast and islands.
Flora and fauna
The fauna of Scotland is typical of the north-western part of the Palearctic ecozone, with some exceptions. In the temperate climate of Scotland, there are currently 62 species of wild mammals (including: a population of wild forest cats, significant numbers of long-nosed and harbor seals, as well as the northernmost colony of bottlenose dolphins), about 250 species of birds (such as grouse - koscha and white (Scottish) partridge, northern gannet, golden eagle, Scottish crossbill, eagles and ospreys).
Scotland's seas are the most biologically productive in the world, with an estimated 40,000 marine species. The Darwin Hills, an important deep-sea cold-water coral reef area, was discovered in 1998.
There are approximately 400 genetically distinct populations of Atlantic salmon in Scottish rivers. There are 42 species of fish in fresh waters, half of which appeared as a result of natural colonization, and half as a result of human introduction.
Four species of reptiles and six species of amphibians are indigenous to Scotland. However, in addition to them, there are 14,000 species of invertebrates (including rare species of bees and butterflies), one way or another subject to environmental protection acts. The Environment Agency is concerned about the threat to much of Scotland's fauna from climate change.
Geology
The rocks of Scotland are rich in sediments from the Silurian, Carboniferous and Triassic periods. Fossil animals are dominated by amphibians and invertebrates.
Story
Early history
Scientists believe that the first people appeared in Scotland approximately 13 thousand years ago as the Last Ice Age ended. The first buildings appeared approximately 9,500 years ago, and permanent settlements - 6 thousand years ago. These include one of the well-preserved Neolithic settlements - Skara Brae, located on. Other monuments of the era are found in the Outer Hebrides and Islands, this is due to the small amount of vegetation and the need for the ancient inhabitants to build their houses from stone.
Roman influence
The written history of Scotland begins with the Roman conquest of Britain, when the territories of modern and were conquered, received the status of Roman provinces and became known as Britain. Parts of southern Scotland were briefly brought under indirect Roman control. To the north lay lands free from Roman conquest - Caledonia, inhabited by Pictish and Gaelic tribes. According to the Roman historian Tacitus, the Caledonians began a "full-scale armed resistance", attacking the Roman legions. During one of the night raids, the IX Spanish Legion was defeated, saved from complete destruction by the cavalry attack of Gnaeus Julius Agricola.
In 83-84 AD. e. Agricola defeated the Caledonians at the Battle of the Graupian Mountains. According to Tacitus, before the battle, the Caledonian leader Calgacus addressed his soldiers with a speech in which he called them “people who do not know the shackles of slavery.” After the victory, the Romans built a chain of forts at Gask Ridge, but three years later they retreated to the Southern Scottish Highlands.
To protect the territory of Britain, in 122-126 the Romans built Hadrian's Wall, which became the northern border of the Empire. Later, in 144-146 even further north, the Antonine Wall was built on the Lowlands of Scotland, which was abandoned in 208 by order of Emperor Septimius Severus.
Although much of Scotland was under Roman control for only about 40 years, it had a major impact on the southern part of the country, inhabited by the Votadini and Damnonia. Welsh name Yr Hen Ogledd(Ancient North) was used to name the kingdoms that formed in Northern England and Southern Scotland after the departure of the Romans. According to records from the 9th and 10th centuries, the Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riada was founded around the 9th century in Western Scotland.
Middle Ages
The largest of the Pictish kingdoms was Fortriu, which was known as Alba or Scotland. The Picts reached their greatest prosperity several times: after the Battle of Nechtansmere during the reign of Brude III (671-693) and during the reign of Aengus I.
The founding year of the Kingdom of Scotland is considered to be 843, when Kenneth MacAlpine became king of the united kingdom of the Scots and Picts.
Over the next centuries, the Kingdom of Scotland expanded to roughly the borders of modern Scotland. During the reign of David I, Scotland became feudal, with a reorganization of government and the introduction of the burgh system. During this period, French and Anglo-French knights and clergy moved to the country. Because of this, the eastern and south-eastern territories of the kingdom became English-speaking, while the rest of the country spoke Gaelic, and Orkney and Shetland spoke Norwegian and remained under the control of the Kingdom of Norway until 1468. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, Scotland entered a relatively calm period, during which there were peaceful relations with England, trade links with the Continent developed, and some scientists, such as John Duns Scotus, had influence far beyond the country's borders.
Stirling Castle
The end of the 13th century became a serious test for Scotland. After the death of King Alexander III in 1286, there were no direct male heirs left, and Margaret, the granddaughter of Alexander III, born of his daughter, who married King Eirik II of Norway, was declared queen. King Edward I of England attempted to regain control of Scotland, and insisted on a marriage between his son, the future King Edward II, and Queen Margaret, despite her young age. But neither the wedding nor even the coronation of Margaret took place; on the way she caught a cold and, before reaching Scottish soil, died on the Orkney Islands.
Since the direct branch was cut short, in 1290 several candidates put forward claims to the throne of the country, including John Balliol, the grandson of the eldest daughter of David of Huntingdon, brother of Kings Malcolm IV and William I the Lion, and Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale, son middle daughter of David. One of the contenders was Edward I, who was a descendant of Matilda of Scotland. But the English king, realizing his low chances of election, chose to head the court to consider the “Great Litigation”. In 1292, Edward I ruled in favor of John Balliol, and on November 30, 1292, John was crowned King of Scotland. As a thank you for his support, John I Balliol recognized England's suzerainty.
Despite the coronation, some of the Scottish barons, led by Robert the Bruce, Lord of Annandale, refused to recognize John's rights to the throne. And Edward I began to treat Scotland as a vassal territory, forcing John to appear in English courts as a defendant in Scottish lawsuits and stationing English garrisons in Scottish fortresses. In order to weaken dependence on England, John Balliol in 1295 renewed the alliance with and, known as the Old Alliance, and openly opposed Edward I.
In response to these actions, Edward I declared John I Balliol a rebellious vassal. In 1296, an English army invaded Scotland and routed the Scots at the Battle of Spotsmoor and conquered the entire country with relative ease. John was captured and signed the abdication of the throne of Scotland on July 10, 1296; he was stripped of his knighthood and coats of arms - hence his subsequent nickname “The Empty Cloak.” As a suzerain who renounced the fief of a vassal, Edward I declared himself king of Scotland, as a result of which the country lost its independence.
The regime established by the English authorities was so cruel that already in 1297 the Scots rebelled, led by William Wallace and Andrew de Moray, the English army was defeated in the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Andrew de Moray was severely wounded in this battle and soon died. Scotland was freed from English forces and William Wallace was elected Guardian of Scotland.
Edward I was infuriated by the Scottish resistance, led the next invasion personally and defeated the Scots in 1298 at the Battle of Falkirk. William Wallace was forced to flee and go into hiding. Later, in 1305, he was betrayed by the Scottish knight John de Menteis, arrested by the British, accused of high treason, which he did not recognize, since he did not consider the English king to be his king, and on August 23 he was executed in London. His body was cut into pieces, which were displayed in major cities in Scotland.
After the Battle of Falkirk, the resistance was led by the descendants of the claimants to the throne of Scotland during the "Great Trial" Red Comyn and the future king Robert I the Bruce, who remained rivals in the desire to seize the throne of Scotland. Bruce eliminated his rival by killing him in the church during a meeting, and ascended the throne as King Robert I on March 25, 1306. After a long and intense war, he achieved a final victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The troops of the English king Edward II were defeated, and the king himself fled and did not get off his horse until the very English border. After the death of Robert I Bruce, the Second War of Scottish Independence began (1332-1357), during which Edward Balliol, supported by King Edward III of England, contested the throne from the heirs of Robert I Bruce.
In the process of a long and exhausting war, Robert I's son David II managed to defend his rights to the throne, but he died childless, and therefore, after his death, Robert Stuart III, as his closest heir, was crowned King Robert II in Scone on March 26, 1371. More than three hundred years of reign of the Stuart dynasty began.
By the end of the Middle Ages, Scotland was divided into two cultural zones: the lowlands, whose inhabitants spoke Anglo-Scottish, and the Highlands, whose population spoke Gaelic. The Galloway Gaelic dialect survived perhaps until the 18th century in remote parts of the south-west of the country that were part of the county of Galloway. Historically, Lowland Scotland was culturally closer to Europe. In the highlands of Scotland, one of the distinctive features of the region was formed - the Scottish clan system.
This period was also characterized by the flourishing of Franco-Scottish relations. In the service of King Charles VII of France there was a mercenary regiment of the Scots Guards (Garde Ecossaise), who, in particular, fought against the British on the side of Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War. In March 1421, a Franco-Scottish army under the command of John Stuart and Gilbert de Lafayette defeated the English army at the Battle of Beaujeu. Three years later, in the Battle of Verneuil, England was the victorious side; John Stewart, along with another 6 to 7 thousand soldiers, died.
Early Modern
In 1502, King James IV of Scotland and King Henry VII of England signed the Treaty of Perpetual Peace, and James IV married Margaret Tudor. This marriage allowed Henry to strengthen the legitimacy of his dynasty. However, ten years later, Jacob decided to break the Eternal Peace and, with the support of France, declared war on England. 9 September 1513 James dies at the Battle of Flodden, becoming the last Scottish monarch to die in battle. On July 6, 1560, the Treaty of Edinburgh was signed, ending almost three centuries of confrontation between England and Scotland. In the same year, under the influence of John Knox, the Scottish Parliament proclaimed the prohibition of Catholicism and the adoption of Protestantism as the state religion of Scotland.
In 1603, King James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne and became King James I of England. Except during the Commonwealth, Scotland remained a separate state, but there were significant conflicts between the monarch and the Scottish Presbyterians over the form of church government. After the Glorious Revolution and the overthrow of the Catholic James VII by William III and Mary II, Scotland briefly threatened to elect its own Protestant monarch, but under the threat of England breaking trade and transport links, the Scottish Parliament, jointly with the English Parliament, passed the Act of Union in 1707. As a result of the unification, the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed.
XVIII century
After unification with England and the abolition of customs tariffs, trade began to flourish in Scotland, especially with colonial America. In particular, the tobacco merchants of Glasgow, known as the Lords of Tobacco, flourished. Before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1776, Glasgow was the largest tobacco port in the world. At the same time, inequality between the inhabitants of the plains and the mountains continued to increase.
During the last attempt to restore the Stuart dynasty to the throne (1745-1746), the leader of the rebels was Charles Edward, also known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie” or “The Young Pretender”. In July 1745, the prince landed at Eriskay, Scotland, raised his father's banner and began the Jacobite uprising. The applicant was supported mainly by representatives of the mountain clans of Scotland. Having quickly taken the capital of Scotland without a fight, Charles defeated the only government army located in Scotland at Prestonpence on September 21 and moved south to England at the head of an army of 6 thousand people. Having occupied Carlisle and reached , the prince, at the request of his advisers, turned back to Scotland, since the Jacobite movement did not generate mass support in England.
D. Morier. Battle of Culloden
An English army was sent against him, led by the king's son William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, whom George II had recalled from the European battlefields of the War of the Austrian Succession. On April 16, 1746, the armies met at the Battle of Culloden, three miles east of , in northern Scotland. In open ground, the Jacobite army found itself defenseless against Cumberland's powerful artillery fire and was soon scattered; The prince's adviser, Lord George Murray, managed to withdraw the rest of the army in combat readiness to Ruthven, intending to continue the war, but Charles, believing that he had been betrayed, decided to leave the rebels. The Battle of Culloden was the last battle fought on the island of Great Britain.
Following the Acts of Union, the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, the country became a powerful European commercial, scientific and industrial centre. It should be noted that Scotland in many ways occupies a unique position in the United Kingdom, which is associated with the history of its unification with England and participation in the work of the national parliament while maintaining its administrative and judicial system. And since the administrative and political systems of the two countries remained different, a reliable basis for maintaining national forces in Scotland was created.
19th century
In 1832, an electoral reform was carried out, increasing the number of members of parliament and the number of citizens allowed to vote. In the mid-19th century, calls for autonomy began to become more frequent in the country, because of this the post of Secretary of State for Scotland was restored.
E. Grimshaw. Vessels on the Clyde (1881)
Glasgow became one of the largest cities in the world and was called the “Second City of the Empire” after London. After the 1860s, shipyards on the river began to play an important role, producing steam-powered ships for both the merchant and naval fleets. Thus, the region has become one of the world's shipbuilding centers. Although the development of industry created jobs and enriched people, social problems began to accumulate: a lack of housing and lagging medicine led to a decrease in the quality of life and an increase in mortality.
It is believed that the Scottish Enlightenment ended by the end of the 18th century, but Scottish scientists and writers continued to play a major role in world science and literature into the 19th century. Scottish physicists James Maxwell and William Thomson, inventors James Watt and William Murdoch made a great contribution to the development of technology during the Industrial Revolution. Among the most famous poets and writers of the era are Walter Scott, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, James Matthew Barry and George MacDonald. The Glasgow School, which emerged in the 19th century and experienced its heyday in the early 20th, occupied an important place in the Celtic Revival, Arts and Crafts and Japonism movements, one of the famous representatives of the Glasgow School was Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
In the 19th century, the culture of the North Scottish Highlands began to gain popularity. Thanks to the popularity of James Macpherson's Ossian and the novels of Walter Scott, kilts and tartans came into fashion throughout Europe. Despite this, the population of the highlands remained poor. Many residents of this region moved to large cities or went to England, Canada, America and Australia. The population of Scotland grew throughout the century: according to the 1801 census, 2.889 million people, and in 1901 - already 4,472. Even despite the development of industry, there were still not enough jobs, which is why from 1841 to 1934 about 2 million Scots immigrated to America and Australia and about 750 thousand to England.
Industrialization and urbanization weakened the parochial school system. Since 1830, the state began to give grants for the construction of schools, and since 1846 it directly sponsored them. In 1872, Scotland switched to the state-funded free school system found in England.
XX century
Scotland played an important role in the First World War, supplying ships, equipment and fish. About half a million Scots went to war, about a quarter of them died, and 150 thousand were seriously injured. Douglas Haig, a Scotsman, was the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force in France. During the Second World War, the northern bays in Scotland were one of the British bases from which Arctic convoys with military materials for the USSR left for Murmansk.
In the post-war years, there followed a period of economic stagnation in both cities and agricultural regions of the country, and unemployment increased. Despite Luftwaffe bombing, Scotland's economy began to boom again at the start of World War II. Robert Watson-Watt invented radar, which helped win the Battle of Britain.
Due to increased international competition and inefficient industry, Scotland suffered a sharp decline in manufacturing after the war, but in recent decades the region has seen a cultural and economic renaissance driven by developments in financial transactions, electronics manufacturing and the oil and gas sectors. Scotland has long been viewed by the central government as a region with low industrial potential and slow development, which was associated with the decline in the importance of a number of old industries, such as coal, textiles, and shipbuilding. Foreign investment, mainly from North American and Japanese companies, was of great importance for Scotland in reorienting its economy.
In 1999, elections to the Scottish Parliament were held, the establishment of which was enshrined in the Scotland Act 1998.
XXI Century
On September 18, 2014, a referendum on Scottish independence was held. 44.7% of voters were in favor of independence, 55.3% were against. The turnout was 84.59%. Following the UK-wide referendum on leaving the European Union on 23 June 2016, in which the Scottish population voted 62% against and 38% in favor of leaving the EU, politicians and analysts at all levels noted that holding a new referendum on independence is “highly probable”, and already at the beginning of 2017 the Scottish government began preparing the necessary legislative framework for holding a new referendum on independence in order for Scotland to maintain membership in the European Union.
Population
According to the 2011 census, the population of Scotland is 5.295 million people. If Scotland were an independent country, it would have the 113th largest population in the world. The Scots make up 84%, the British - 7.9%, immigrants from various European countries - 217 thousand people. or 4.1% (of which 54 thousand people are Irish, Poles - 61 thousand people). The total population is 96% of European origin. Immigrants from Asian countries - 141 thousand people. or 2.7% (including Pakistanis - 49 thousand people, Chinese and Indians - 33 thousand people each), people from Africa, the West Indies, Arabs and others - 80 thousand people. or 1.5%
In the XVIII-XIX centuries. Scotland was a region of mass emigration, so there are now a significant number of Scottish descendants living abroad. In the United States, according to the 2010 census, there are 8.718 million Americans of Scottish and Scots-Irish (that is, Ulster Scots) descent. However, according to various estimates, the real number of descendants of the Scots reaches 25-30 million people, that is, 8-9% of the total population. The 2011 census showed that there were 4.715 million Canadians of Scottish descent (15% of the population). In addition, Scots live in Australia (up to 2 million people or 10%), (0.7 million people or 17%), South Africa, .
According to the UK Office for National Statistics (2014), 45% of Scotland's population aged 25 to 64 years have completed higher or postgraduate education, which is perhaps the largest proportion of any country in the world.
Language
Currently, there is no officially adopted state language in the UK, but three languages are used in Scotland - English (which is de facto the main one), Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish (Scots). Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scots were officially recognized in 1992 by the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, which was ratified by the UK government in 2001.
Religion
According to 2011 data, 53.8% of the population are Christians. The majority are adherents of the national Church of Scotland, organized according to the Presbyterian type - 32.4%. 15.9% of Scotland's population are adherents of the Roman Catholic Church, other Christians - 5.5%. Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and others - 2.5% The remaining 43.7% of residents are atheists and undecided.
Political structure
The legislative body is the Scottish Parliament (Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba), consisting of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (Gaelic: Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba), elected by the people of Scotland, one of whom the Parliament elects as the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (Gaelic: Oifigear- Riaghlaidh) and two as Deputy Presiding Officers of the Scottish Parliament.
The executive body is the Scottish Government (Gaelic: Riaghaltas na h-Alba), consisting of the First Minister of Scotland (Gaelic: Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba), Deputy First Minister of Scotland (Gaelic: Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba), 8 Scottish Cabinet Secretaries and 10 Scottish Ministers.
Legal system
The highest court is the High Court of Justice (for criminal cases) and the Court of Session (for civil cases). Courts of appeal - sheriff courts ( Sheriff Court), courts of first instance - district courts ( District Courts of Scotland), the lowest level of the judicial system are magistrates ( Justice of the Peace Courts).
Administrative division
Historically, the administrative and legal divisions of Scotland included counties, regions, parishes, parishes, mormares and other administrative units. The names of these historical areas are still sometimes used in geographical reference books.
In 1996, by a decision of the British Parliament, Scotland was divided into 32 districts (municipalities) (English Council area), whose municipal councils are responsible for the operation of all local services. District councils (eng. Community council) are informal organizations representing municipalities.
In terms of the Scottish Parliament, there are 73 constituencies and 8 regions. There are 59 constituencies for the British Parliament. The work of the fire and police services is based on the division of Scotland introduced in 1975. Ambulance and post offices have long had their own ways of dividing Scotland into districts.
City status in Scotland is confirmed by a special patent letter (English). letters patent). In total, there are 6 cities in Scotland: , and, more recently, .
Economy
Over the past 40 years, the sectoral focus of Scotland's economy has seen a dramatic shift from labour-intensive heavy industry to high technology, financial services and consumer goods. The main sectors of Scotland's economy today are gas and oil production, whiskey and gin production, forestry, tourism, fishing and aquaculture, finance, information technology, and the computer games industry.
Mining
Since the 1970s, oil has been extracted on the North Sea shelf. Through a system of pipelines and tankers, oil and natural gas from the fields of the North Sea and North Atlantic are transported to the Sullom Voe oil terminal, where they are loaded onto tankers at the terminal port for further transportation. Since 1964, when the British government issued the first license to develop the North Sea, about 40 billion tons of oil have been produced from it. The remaining reserves, which have not yet begun to be developed, are estimated at just over half this amount, at 24 billion tons, which corresponds to approximately 30-40 years of production. The country has 1 refinery with a total capacity of about 20 million tons per year, located in Grangemouth, at the mouth of the River Forth, as well as a plant for processing gas condensate of the company Shell, in Mossmorann (Fife).
Energy
Cruachan Dam reservoir in Argyll and Bute.
Scotland has the world's most developed market for renewable electricity generated by waves and tides. Scotland has the largest tidal turbines. In 2011, the Scottish government approved a plan to build a tidal power station in the Sound of Islay between the islands of Islay and Jura.
The world's first floating wind farm is also located in Scottish waters Hywind, with a capacity of 30 MW, built and owned by companies Statoil(75%) and Masdar (25%).
Whiskey production
Scotch whiskey exports annually generate £4 billion ($5.3 billion) for the budget. Following the Brexit referendum in August 2016, sales of Scotch whiskey abroad soared due to the fall in the value of the pound sterling - an increase of between 30 and 40%.
Fisheries and aquaculture
Fisheries and aquaculture are an important component of Scotland's economy, providing employment to remote northern and island communities. Fish catch in 2016 totaled 210 thousand tons. Scotland ranks third among the world's largest producers of salmon, and its production on aquafarms in 2016 was estimated by the Scottish government at 177 thousand tons. Rainbow trout is also bred on aquafarms (492 tons in 2015 year) and oysters.
Computer games industry
Scotland is home to approximately 91 companies (9.5% of all companies in this sector in the UK) that develop, test and market computer video games and gaming applications.
Banking system
Historically, the development of banking in Scotland occurred independently of England. During the Kingdom of Scotland, the dominant practice was to issue permitting concessions to banks. Bank of Scotland ( Bank of Scotland), founded by a group of Scottish merchants in 1695 a year after the establishment of the Bank of England, for 21 years held the monopoly rights to issue money, granted to it in accordance with a legislative act of the Scottish Parliament. In 1727 the second banking patent was granted to the Royal Bank of Scotland ( Royal Bank of Scotland). By 1826, in addition to three unauthorized banks (with 134 branches), there were 22 joint-stock banks (with 97 branches) and 11 private banks in Scotland.
The UK Banking Patent Act provided pre-existing Scottish banks with issuing rights subject to the terms and conditions of the Bank of England. Passed a year later by the Scottish Bank Notes Act ( Bank Notes (Scotland) Act 1845), the fiduciary issue of each of them was limited to the average level of the previous year, but, unlike the English banks, the Scottish banks had the right to issue notes beyond this fixed limit, to the extent that they were able to fully back additional notes in gold. In addition, contrary to the provisions of the UK-wide Banking Patent Act 1844, the Scottish version of the 1845 Act required that if two banks merged, they retained the rights to a fiduciary issue equal to the amount of their individual issues.
Currently, according to latest banking law 2009, which, among other things, establishes the legal basis for the issue of banknotes by banks in Scotland (and Northern Ireland), three authorized banks have the right to issue their own banknotes: Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank. Current banking legislation provides for the obligation of authorized banks to create collateral assets at a one-to-one rate. However, at least 60% of the bank's security assets which it forms in respect of its banknotes in circulation must consist of Bank of England banknotes and United Kingdom coins and must be deposited with the Bank of England.
Culture
music and dancing
The most famous of the folk instruments is the bagpipe.
Among Scottish dances, Scottish ballroom dancing and solo Highland dancing are famous.
A well-known contemporary musician and composer of Scottish origin is the native founder and leader of the rock band Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, who is now engaged in solo projects.
Groups " Nazareth», « Alestorm», « Mogwai», « The Fratellis», « Simple Minds», « Franz Ferdinand», « Runrig"also comes from Scotland.
Famous punk band " The Exploited" - originally from Scotland. The most famous Scottish alternative band is " Primal Scream».
The musicians of the legendary Australian group AC/DC Angus and Malcolm Young, as well as the late Bon Scott, are Scots by nationality and natives of Scotland.
The Celtic Connections folk music festivals are held annually in and Hebridean Celtic Festival» in Stornoway.
Literature
Scottish literature has a rich history. Classics in their genres are the works of Robert Burns and Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and James Hogg.
Scottish literature includes a wide range of literature written in English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Breton, French, Latin and many other languages ever written within the borders of modern Scotland. The earliest literature dates back to the 6th century and includes works such as Gododdin, written in Cumbrian (Old Welsh), and Elegy for St. Columba, written by Dallan Forgaill in Middle Irish. "The Life of Columba" by Adomnan Adomnán), the ninth abbot of the monastery of Iona, was written in Latin in the 7th century. In the 13th century, the French language became widespread in literature. A century later, the first texts appeared in Scots. After the 17th century, the influence of the English language increased, although in southern Scotland most of the population still spoke the southern dialect of Scots. The 18th century became the “golden age” for all Scottish literature, especially for poetry. The poet and songwriter Robert Burns wrote in Scots, however, a significant part of his work was still written in English and the “lite” version of Scots, the use of which made his work accessible to a larger circle of readers (and not just ordinary Scots). At the same time, Gaelic poetry experienced a rise (Alexander MacDonald, Duncan Ban MacIntyre, etc.), interest in which has not faded to this day in many countries of the world, including Russia.
The emergence of a movement known as keillard school"(English kailyard school) at the end of the 19th century revived elements of fairy tales and folklore in literature.
Some modern novelists, such as Irvine Welsh (famous for his novel Trainspotting), write in understandable Scottish English, reflecting the vulnerabilities of modern Scottish culture.
Some famous Scottish writers:
- Sir Walter Scott - “Ivanhoe”, “Quentin Dorward”, “Rob Roy”, etc.;
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes, The Lost World;
- Robert Louis Stevenson - "Treasure Island", "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde";
- Kenneth Grahame - "The Wind in the Willows";
- William McGonagall - “The Wreck of the Bridge over the River Tay”, “The Burns Statue”, “Poetical Pearls”, “The Execution of James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose”, etc.;
- Irvine Welsh - “Trainspotting”, “Nightmares of the Marabou Stork”, etc.;
- James Barry - "Peter Pan".
Fashion design and crafts
Scotland is famous for its national men's clothing - the kilt, which has many colors (tartans). Handicrafts are also developed in Scotland.
National symbols
- Apostle Andrew is considered the patron saint of Scotland; according to legend, his relics were transferred in the 8th century from a Scottish city. Images of the apostle, as well as the X-shaped cross on which, according to legend, he was crucified, serve as symbols of Scotland.
- The bagpipe is a national musical instrument, the unofficial symbol of Scotland.
- The coat of arms and royal standard depict a red heraldic lion on a golden field surrounded by a red double border sprouted with lilies.
- Anthem of Scotland, " Flower of Scotland».
- The unicorn has traditionally been included in many historical Scottish coats of arms (often in the form of a shield holder).
- Tartan is a fabric with a pattern of horizontal and vertical stripes. The national clothes of Scotland and, in particular, kilts are sewn from fabric with such an ornament; in Russia it is called “tartan”. The tartan design is assigned to a particular clan or family, military unit or organization.
- The flag of Scotland is an image of a white St. Andrew's cross on a sky-blue cloth.
- The thistle flower is the semi-official national symbol of Scotland and is depicted, in particular, on banknotes. According to legend, in the 13th century, the coastal settlements of the Scots suffered from Viking raids. Once, an unexpected night attack was avoided due to the fact that the Vikings walked barefoot into the thickets of Scottish thistles, which gave themselves away.
Traditional unicorn sculpture on top of a column in a shopping plaza | Thistle flower, traditional symbol of Scotland | Tartans in three colors | Statue of St. Andrew in |
Notes
- There is no official state religion in Scotland; the Church of Scotland is separated from the state and has the status of a national
- Scotland in short (English) (pdf). gov.scot (2003.02.17). Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Mid-2014 Population Estimates Scotland (English) (pdf). gro-scotland.gov.uk (2015.04.30). Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- 2011 Census Reconciliation Report - Population (English) (pdf). gro-scotland.gov.uk (2013.08.08). Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Economy Statistics (English). gov.scot. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- http://bse.sci-lib.com/article124364.html Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- WebCite query result (English) . www.webcitation.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- A Quick Guide to Glasgow. glasgowcitycentre.co.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Welcome to Aberdeen. scottishaccommodationindex.com. Retrieved 2015.12.06 lang=en.
- Keay, John, Keay, July. Collins encyclopaedia of Scotland. - London: HarperCollins, 1994. - 1046 p. - ISBN 0002550822.
- Mackie, J.D. A history of Scotland. - Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1964. - 406 p.
- J.G. Collier. Conflict of Laws (English) (pdf). Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- In maps: How close was the Scottish referendum vote? (English) . bbc.com. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Scotland is going to hold a referendum on independence - BBC Russian Service (Russian). Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- MSPs give Nicola Sturgeon a mandate to hold direct EU talks. www.scotsman.com. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- Ayto, John, Crofton, Ian. Brewer's Britain & Ireland: The History, Culture, Folklore and Etymology of 7500 Places in These Islands.. - London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2005. - 1326 pp. - ISBN 030435385X.
- Inshore Fisheries in Scotland. The Scottish Government. Retrieved August 24, 2008. Archived February 4, 2012.
- Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries. Scottish Executive. Retrieved 13 January 2007. Archived 4 February 2012.
- See for example Johnston, I. (29.11.2006) “Sea change as plankton head north." Edinburgh. The Scotsman. James Lovelock's report expresses his concern that global warming will 'kill billions' in the next century
- Moffat, Allistair. Before Scotland: the story of Scotland before history. - London: Thames & Hudson, 2005. - 352 p. - ISBN 050005133X.
- Pryor, Francis. Britain B.C. : life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans. - London: Harper Perennial, 2004. - 488 p. - ISBN 000712693X.
- The Romans in Scotland (English). bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Publius Cornelius Tacitus. Biography of Julia Agricola / Utchenko, S.L. - M: Ladomir, 1993. - T. I. - ISBN 5-86218-024-9, 5-86218-021-4.
- Edwards, Kevin, Ralston, Ian. Scotland after the Ice Age: an environmental and archaeological history, 8000 BC - AD 1000. - Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003. - 336 pp. - ISBN 0748617361.
- Snyder, Christopher A. The Britons. - Malden: Buckwell Publishing, 2003. - 331 p. - ISBN 063122260X.
- Dalriada: The Land of the First Scots. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Scot Ancient people. britannica.com. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Brown, Michelle, Ann Farr, Carol. Mercia: an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in Europe. - London; New York: Continuum, 2003. - 386 pp. - ISBN 0826477658.
- Whiters, Charles W.J. Gaelic in Scotland, 1698-1981: the geographical history of a language. - Edinburgh: John Donald, 1984. - pp. 16-41. - 352 s. - ISBN 0859760979.
- Barrow, Geoffrey W.S. Robert Bruce and the community of the realm of Scotland. - Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1988. - 421 p. - ISBN 0852246048.
- Scotland Conquered, 1174-1296. nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Scotland Regained, 1297-1328. nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.06.
- Grant, Alexander. Independence and nationhood: Scotland, 1306-1469. - Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993. - pp. 3-57. - 248 p. - ISBN 0748602739.
- Wormald, Jenny. Court, kirk and community: Scotland, 1470-1625. - Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1981. - 216 p. - ISBN 0802024416.
- Garde Écossaise (English). educationscotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- David, Saul. The illustrated encyclopedia of warfare: from ancient Egypt to Iraq. - New York: DK Publishing, 2012. - P. 391. - 512 p. - ISBN 9780756695484.
- James IV, King of Scots 1488 – 1513 (English). bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- Battle of Flodden (English). britannica.com. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- The Scottish Reformation (English). bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- Ross, David. Chronology of Scottish history. - New Lanark: Geddes & Grosset, 2002. - P. 56. - 187 p. - ISBN 1855343800.
- Devine, T. M. The tobacco lords: a study of the tobacco merchants of Glasgow and their trading activities, c. 1740-90. - Edinburgh: Donald, 1975. - pp. 100-102. - 209 p. - ISBN 0859760103.
- Enlightenment Scotland. educationscotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- Eremina N.V. The problem of the status of Scotland in the 90s of the XX century. Page 54-55.
- Devine, T.M. , Finlay, Richard J. Scotland in the twentieth century. - Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1996. - pp. 64-65. - 312 s. - ISBN 074860751X.
- Ferran Requejo Coll, Klaus-Jürgen Nagel. Federalism beyond federations: asymmetry and processes of resymmetrization in Europe. - Burlington: Ashgate Publishing, 2011. - P. 39. - 279 p. - ISBN 9781409409229.
- Driver, Felix, Gilbert, David. Imperial cities: landscape, display and identity. - Manchester; New York: Manchester University Press, 1999. - pp. 215-223. - 283 p. - ISBN 0719054133.
- Lee, C.H. Scotland and the United Kingdom: the economy and the Union in the twentieth century. - Manchester; New York: Manchester University Press, 1995. - P. 43. - 245 pp. - ISBN 0719041007.
- Wills, Elspeth. Scottish firsts: a celebration of innovation and achievement. - Edinburgh: Mainstream, 2002. - 256 p. - ISBN 1840186119.
- Tschudi-Madsen, Stephan. The art nouveau style: a comprehensive guide with 264 illustrations. - Mineola: Dover Publications, 2002. - pp. 283-284. - 488 p. - ISBN 0486417948.
- Sievers, Marco. The Highland myth as an invented tradition of the 18th and 19th century and its significance for the image of Scotland: seminar paper. - Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag, 2005. - pp. 22-25. - 27 s. - ISBN 9783638816519.
- Gray, Malcolm. The Highland economy, 1750-1850. - Edinburgh: Greenwood, 1976. - 280 p.
- Wormald, Jenny. Scotland: a history. - Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. - 380 pp. - ISBN 0198206151.
- Cairncross, A.K. The Scottish economy: a statistical account of Scottish life by members of the staff of Glasgow University. - Cambridge: C.U.P., 1954.
- Houston, R.A. , Knox, William. The new Penguin history of Scotland: from the earliest times to the present day. - London; Edinburgh: Allen Lane; National Museums of Scotland, 2001. - 572 p. - ISBN 0713991879.
- Devine, T.M. The Scottish nation: a history, 1700-2000. - New York: Viking, 1999. - pp. 91-100. - 695 p. - ISBN 0670888117.
- Finlay, Modern Scotland 1914-2000 (2006), pp 1-33
- Finlay, Modern Scotland 1914-2000 (2006), pp 34-72
- Finlay, Richard J. National Identity in Crisis: Politicians, Intellectuals and the ‘End of Scotland’, 1920–1939 (English) // History: magazine. - 1994. - June (vol. 79, no. 256). - P. 242-259. - ISSN 0018-2648.
- Harvie, Christopher No Gods and Precious Few Heroes (Edward Arnold, 1989) pp. 54-63.
- Celtic tiger burns brighter at Holyrood. theguardian.com. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- NATIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR SCOTLAND (English). gov.scot. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- N.V. Eremina The problem of the status of Scotland in the 90s of the XX century. - pp. 163-164. - St. Petersburg, 2005.
- Scottish independence referendum - Results - BBC News. bbc.com. Retrieved 2015.12.07.
- Scotland is about to hold a referendum on independence. BBC Russian Service. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- Scottish Parliament approves new independence referendum BBC Russian Service(March 28, 2017). Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- VIEW / The most educated country in Europe has been named
- "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994"
- "City status"
- "UK Cities"
- Oil terminal "Sallom Vo"
- Yana Litvinova BBC Russian Service, London. Scotland's oil as the jewel of the British crown (Russian). BBC Russian Service. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- Scotland: almost no oil. 5thelement.ru. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- Scotland to build largest tidal power station
- The foundations for the world's first floating wind farm, Hywind, have been shipped to Norway. http://sudostroenie.info/(May 12, 2017). Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- The world's first floating wind farm has been launched in Scotland. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- Scotland demands London protect whiskey exports after Brexit (July 30, 2017). Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- Scotland has called on London to protect whiskey exports after Brexit. RBC. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- Scottish Government, St. Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG Tel: 0131 556 8400 [email protected]. Aquaculture (English) . www.gov.scot (8 December 2009). Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- www.megafishnet.com. Scotland is the world's third largest producer of salmon | Free | INDUSTRY NEWS - FishNet.ru. www.fishnet.ru. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- St Andrew's House Scottish Government. Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2016 (18 September 2017). Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- Scottish video games industry "surging" BBC News(September 26, 2016). Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- Scotland's video games industry on the rise with huge upsurge in job numbers (English) Open Directory Project
Dictionaries and encyclopedias Great Catalan Great Russian Britannica (online) Brockhaus Catholic (1997-…)
Regulatory control GND: 4053233-1 LCCN: n79123936 NDL: 00571670 VIAF: 134799371
Scotland(English Scotland, Gal. Alba) is an administrative region and historical province of Great Britain. Before the union with England in 1707, it was an independent state—the Kingdom of Scotland. Scotland occupies the north of the island of Great Britain and the adjacent islands - the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, and borders on land with England. The area of Scotland is 78,772 sq. km, the length of the coastline is 9,911 km. The length of the border from the Tweed River in the west to the Solway Firth in the east is about 96 km. The eastern coast of Scotland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the western coast by the North Sea. Since 1996, by decision of the British Parliament, Scotland has been divided into 32 regions. Population 5062 thousand people. (2001), mostly Scottish. There are three languages spoken in Scotland: English, Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish (Scots). Believers are mainly Protestants (Presbyterians). The main city is Edinburgh.
Most of the territory is occupied by the North Scottish Highlands (up to 1343 m) and the South Scottish Highlands; between them the Lowlands are a predominantly industrial region.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy and shipbuilding are developed in Scotland; textile (tweed, tartan, rugs, sheep's wool blankets), aviation, electronics, automotive industries. Oil is being actively produced on the North Sea shelf. Animal husbandry predominates in agriculture.
The first people appeared in Scotland approximately 8 thousand years ago, and the first permanent settlements date back to 6 thousand years ago. The written history of Scotland begins with the Roman conquest of Britain. Parts of southern Scotland were briefly brought under indirect Roman control. To the north lay lands free from Roman conquest - Caledonia, the kingdoms of Dal Riada and Pictia.
In 843, Kenneth MacAlpin became king of the united kingdom of the Scots and Picts, from which time the history of the Kingdom of Scotland begins. Over the following centuries, the territory of the Kingdom of Scotland expanded to an area roughly equivalent to that of modern Scotland. This period was marked by relatively good relations with the Wessex rulers of England. Some time after the 945 invasion of Strathclyde by the English king Edmund I, the province was given to Malcolm I. During the reign of King Indulf (954–62), the Scots occupied the fortress later called Edinburgh. The reign of Malcolm II strengthened the unity of the Scottish lands, especially after 1018, when the king defeated Northumbria at the Battle of Careme.
After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, Scotland changed its Gaelic cultural orientation. Malcolm III married Margaret, who played an important role in reducing the influence of Celtic Christianity. Her son, David I, helped introduce feudalism to Scotland. After the death of Queen Margaret, the last direct heir of Alexander III, the Scottish aristocracy turned to the King of England with a request to judge the disputed claimants to the Scottish throne. Instead, Edward I tried to take full control of Scotland, but the Scots held out, led first by William Wallace and Andrew de Moray and then by Robert the Bruce. The latter ascended the throne as Robert I on 25 March 1306 and achieved a final victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. But after his death, the War of Scottish Independence broke out again (1332–1357) and only with the advent of the Stuart dynasty in the 1370s did the situation in Scotland begin to stabilize.
By the end of the Middle Ages, Scotland was divided into two cultural zones: the lowlands, whose inhabitants spoke Anglo-Scottish, and the Highlands, whose inhabitants spoke Gaelic. In the Highlands of Scotland, one of the distinctive features of the region was formed - the Scottish clan system. Powerful clans retained their influence even after the Act of Union came into force in 1707.
In 1603, King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne and became King James I of England. After the overthrow of the Catholic James VII by William III and Mary II, Scotland briefly threatened to elect its own Protestant monarch, but under the threat of England cutting off trade and transport links, the Scottish Parliament, together with English adopted the “Act of Union” in 1707. As a result of the unification, the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed. In the 19th century, Scotland became a powerful European commercial, scientific and industrial center. Scotland suffered a sharp decline in manufacturing after the Second World War, but in recent decades there has been a cultural and economic renaissance in the region, driven by financial, electronics and offshore oil and gas revenues from the North Sea.
In 1999, elections were held to the Scottish Parliament, the establishment of which was enshrined in the Scotland Act in 1998. Since the beginning of 2000, the influence of nationalists has been increasing in Scotland. In 2007, the National Party won elections to the Scottish Parliament, and its leader announced that he would seek a referendum on Scottish independence in 2010.
Scottish literature has a rich history and includes many books written in English, Scots Gaelic, Scots, Brythonic, French, Latin and many other languages. Some famous Scottish writers: Sir Walter Scott (Ivanhoe, Quentin Durward, Rob Roy), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (The Notes of Sherlock Holmes, The Lost World), Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island) , "Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde"), Kenneth Grahame ("The Wind in the Willows"), James Hogg.
The earliest works of literature date from the 6th century and include such works as Gododdin, written in Brythonic (Old Welsh), and Elegy in Honor of St. Columba (Dallan Forgaill, in Middle Irish). The Life of Columba (Vita Columbae), created by Adomnan, the ninth abbot of the monastery of Iona, was written in Latin in the 7th century. In the 13th century, the French language became widespread in literature. 100 years later, the first texts appeared in Scots. After the 17th century, the influence of the English language increased, although in southern Scotland most of the population still spoke the southern Scots dialect. Poet and songwriter, Robert Burns wrote in Scots, however, most of his works are still written in English and the "lite" version of Scots. The emergence of a movement known as the kailyard tradition at the end of the 19th century revived elements of fairy tales and folklore in literature. Some modern novelists, such as Irvine Welsh (famous for Trainspotting, Trainspotting), write in understandable Scottish English.
The patron saint of Scotland is Apostle Andrew. According to legend, his relics were transferred in the 8th century from Constantinople to the Scottish city of St. Andrews. The Scottish flag is an image of a white X-shaped St. Andrew's cross, on which, according to legend, the apostle was crucified, against a sky blue background. The coat of arms of Scotland and the royal standard depict a red heraldic lion on a yellow field surrounded by a red double fleur-de-lis frame. By the way, this coat of arms, together with a map of Scotland, is depicted on a small porcelain bell “Scotland” from the “Geography” section of the “Geographical Objects” subsection. The thistle flower is the semi-official national symbol of Scotland and is depicted, in particular, on banknotes. According to legend, in the 13th century, the coastal settlements of the Scots suffered from Viking raids. Once, an unexpected night attack was avoided due to the fact that the Vikings walked barefoot into the thickets of Scottish thistles, which gave themselves away. Many historical Scottish coats of arms have traditionally included a unicorn (often in the form of a shield holder). Scotland is also famous for tartan (checkered fabric, “tartan”), used in kilts (men’s skirts - the national clothing of the highlanders) and bagpipes - a national musical instrument, the unofficial symbol of Scotland.
Based on materials from Wikipedia, Dictionary of Modern Geographical Names
(under the general editorship of academician V.M. Kotlyakov. - Electronic publication. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria, 2006).
Basic moments
Traveling around Scotland evokes a storm of emotions. It amazes with the majesty of its untouched nature: emerald hills and mountains, whose peaks are hidden in a foggy haze, endless valleys dotted with flowering heather, ascetic rocky islands. Scotland is famous for its ancient castles containing priceless works of art, endless beaches, golf courses, and excellent cuisine. More than 2 million people come here every year to admire this detached and slightly gloomy beauty. Holidays in Scotland belong to the expensive category, and most of the tourists are representatives of wealthy Western European countries and Americans. Many of them own real estate here.
The homeland of whiskey and golf, bagpipes and the tartan kilt is incredibly original. The Scots themselves even today feel their individuality, have a special system of values, their own history and traditions that differ from the English. You can see this for yourself, because no matter what time you come to Scotland, you will certainly find yourself witnessing one of the festivals, theatrical performances or traditional sports competitions, the exact number of which is unknown even to the Scots themselves.
History of Scotland
It is known that already in the first centuries of the 1st millennium AD. e. Most of modern Scotland was inhabited by Celtic tribes who came here from Ireland. Having exterminated and partially assimilated the aboriginal population, they formed a people commonly called the “Picts”. This is what the Romans called this well-organized warlike tribe when they unsuccessfully tried to conquer the northern lands of the island of Britain. “Piktus” means “painted” in Latin: Pict warriors who fought without armor tattooed their bodies with patterns.
Since the 11th century, England, Scotland's southern neighbor, tried to conquer the kingdom, but the Scots managed to defend their independence for a long time. Hostilities between the countries either subsided or flared up again, which was greatly facilitated by the internal struggle of the Scottish clans for the throne. Contenders to the crown often publicly or secretly tried to enlist the support of England, which skillfully pitted them against each other, using civil strife for invasions, and sometimes initiated alliances based on marriages between the English and Scottish royal dynasties.
In the 16th century, Scotland was rocked by religious strife. The local nobility and bourgeoisie supported the leader of the Scottish Reformation, John Knox, a student of Calvin. However, the monarchical dynasty of the Stuarts was still devoted to Catholicism. The iconic victim of the religious confrontation between Protestants and Catholics was Mary Stuart, who refused to change her faith. In 1603, her son, the Scottish monarch James VI, ascended the English throne, but despite sharing a common ruler, the two countries remained unfriendly towards each other.
During the 17th century, attempts were made by the parliaments of Scotland and England to unite both states, but only in 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, the last representative of the Stuart dynasty on the English throne, was the Act of Union adopted, which approved the formation of a single kingdom of Great Britain. The Scottish Parliament ceased to exist. But the document enshrined such important postulates for the Scots as the priority of the Presbyterian Church and the independent status of the legal system.
In 1998, the UK Parliament passed an Act that restored Scotland's right to have its own parliament and government.
Scottish character
According to the English writer George Orwell, the most striking characteristics of the British are “ostentatious composure, politeness, respect for the law, suspicion of foreigners, sentimental attachment to animals, hypocrisy, emphasizing the differences of rank and class and a passion for sport.” Residents of Scotland will not fail to notice that these words refer mainly to the English. The English themselves, to the displeasure of the Scots, are not inclined to recognize the difference between the words “British” and “Englishman,” although the contradictory nature of the Scottish national character, which combines gloom and humor, prudence and generosity, arrogance and tolerance, sensitivity and stubbornness, often leads them confused. While the English can be affable depending on the circumstances, the Scots are characterized by genuine courtesy and hospitable warmth. English literature is heavily peppered with witticisms directed at the Scots, who, in turn, often call the unification of the two countries a forced wedding. Unlike the English, the Scots were never under either Roman or Franco-Norman rule, and this is an additional source of pride for them.
The establishment of Protestantism here, unlike England, was often accompanied by tragic events, which strengthened the character of the adherents of the Reformation, largely making them dogmatists. In remote parts of Scotland, cooking, cleaning or reading the newspaper on Sunday are still considered serious sins. Scottish Catholics are also significantly more orthodox than English Catholics.
The Scots, keenly aware of their national identity, are nevertheless well aware of the economic benefits of their union with England. A clear confirmation of this is the results of the independence referendum held in 2014 at the initiative of the Scottish National Party: 52% of Scots supported the preservation of a single country.
The spirit of independent Scotland is especially felt in its northern regions, inhabited by the Gaels - Scottish highlanders. They have their own way of life, which still includes the concept of clanism, which was established here in the Middle Ages. Echoes of the old clan system are still preserved in the surnames of Scots of Gaelic origin, which begin with the word "Mac" (in Gaelic - "son"). Many residents of mountain villages today bear a common surname.
During national holidays, the Scots, wanting to emphasize their commitment to tradition, dress up in ceremonial Gaelic clothes: elegant white shirts with turn-down collars, large pleated plaid skirts (kilts), short cloth jackets and blankets that are thrown over one shoulder. Kilts and plaids are made from a special checkered fabric - tartan. Each Scottish clan had its own coloring of this fabric. At the end of the 18th century, this clothing became the uniform of the Scots Guards regiments. Today, kilts are worn by teenage boys, adult men, and even officials.
National currency
Despite the fact that the official currency of Great Britain is the English pound, Scotland has the right to issue its own money. This is also a pound, but the bills have differences in design. However, you can only be guaranteed to spend Scottish pounds in Scotland; in other regions of the UK, stores may not accept them. Such an exotic banknote is a good souvenir from this mountainous region.
Geography
Scotland “captured” a third of the country’s territory and three archipelagos – the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands. Its northern and western coasts are washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and its eastern shores face the North Sea. Scotland is separated from the island of Ireland by the North Channel, which connects the Irish Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. The western and eastern coasts of Scotland are connected by the Caledonian Canal, of which the famous Loch Ness is part.
Mountainous Scotland has long been divided into two regions: the historical regions of Lowland and Highland. The Lowlands are located in the southeast, comprising the Southern Highlands and the Lowlands of Scotland. However, this territory can only be called flat: in its center lies a chain of hills of volcanic origin, and hundreds of small rocky ridges are scattered throughout. Only river floodplains occupy lowlands with fertile land and lush pastures. About two-thirds of the population lives in Lowland, and most of the large farms and industrial enterprises are located here. The largest cities in Scotland are located here - the capital Edinburgh and Glasgow.
In the northwest is the Highland, or Scottish Highlands. This is a special world with endless expanses of wild land, chains of rocky mountains crossed by narrow valleys with rivers, waterfalls and lakes, deep fjords opening to the sea. The western mountain slopes, exposed to the oceanic winds, are devoid of tree vegetation, while the eastern ridges are covered with luxurious Scottish pines, spruces and deciduous trees. Above the forest line, heathland, bogs and fern thickets dominate. The southern Highlands are home to the Grampian Mountains, the highest in Britain, with the peak of Ben Nevis (1343m).
Tourism seasons
Due to the fact that Scotland has unlimited opportunities for a wide variety of recreation, the tourist season here lasts all year round. But travelers “occupy” it en masse from May to August, as well as during the New Year and Christmas holidays.
May, when the season officially opens, is the sunniest month of the year. By midday the air in the lowlands of Scotland warms up to +15 °C, in the northern regions it is slightly cooler. In summer, even on the warmest days, the air temperature does not exceed +23 °C; cold snaps occur quite often. If you decide to go to the mountains, dress warmly: here it is usually no more than +15 °C.
Summer is the time when the valleys and highlands are covered with bright carpets of flowering heather, and the west coast, washed by blue ocean waters, becomes comfortable for a beach holiday. Scotland's white-sand beaches stretching into the horizon are some of the most beautiful on the planet, but keep in mind that the water temperature off the coast never exceeds 20°C. Summer is also the peak of the fishing season.
In September it is still quite warm (about +15 °C), but it begins to rain, albeit briefly. In October, the weather worsens sharply: the sky is covered with rain clouds, it becomes damp and windy. At the same time, surfers believe that the best waves on the coast are in October. November brings increased winds and storms. The temperature on the Scottish plains is about +8 ° C, and in the mountainous areas the first snow falls and frosts occur.
Winter in the lowland areas is quite mild, but damp and windy: the air temperature usually ranges from –2 to +4 °C, and it often snows and rains. It is snowy in the mountains at this time, the temperature can drop to –10 °C. The ski season in Scotland begins in December and lasts until April.
Lowland
This historical region is clearly divided into eastern and western parts, not only geographically, but also due to the character of its inhabitants. Easterners consider themselves sophisticated people with good taste. Scots living in the west, including Glasgow, are not pretentious and believe that their main virtues are kind-hearted and realistic.
Edinburgh
In the east of Scotland, along the picturesque shore of the Firth of Forth, lies one of the most beautiful cities in Europe - Edinburgh, which became the capital of the Kingdom of Scotland during the reign of David I (1124-1253). Whichever way you arrive in this city, located between the sea and the hills, the first thing that appears is the castle, rising above the basalt ridge.
The castle finials seem to pierce into the sky, and the peaked roofs, spiers and towers of the old city form a broken horizon line. It stretches from the battlements of the stronghold to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, hiding under the green mountain called King Arthur's Seat. At its top is the best observation deck in Edinburgh.
On the territory of the castle there is the oldest building in the capital - the tiny chapel of Queen Margaret of Scotland. It was built at the beginning of the 12th century. The Scottish crown, scepter and sword are kept here - some of the oldest royal regalia in Europe.
The Royal Mile, which runs from the wide esplanade in front of Edinburgh Castle to the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse, was the center of city life until the end of the 18th century and is still quite lively. Here, during the famous summer Edinburgh Festival, a spectacular theatrical military parade takes place. Going down the street, you will see wonderful buildings - examples of British architecture of the 16th-18th centuries. Narrow alleys fan out from the Royal Mile. As they fly by, you can see the Pentland Hills to the south, the North Sea to the east, and the silver waters of the Firth of Forth to the north.
At the end of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the residence of Her Majesty the Queen during her stay in Scotland. The palace, founded by James IV in 1498, was completed under James V and Charles II. The official apartments feature wonderful French and Flemish tapestries and 18th-century furniture. In the throne room, the Queen of Great Britain appoints senior officials to positions and rewards the worthy.
Descend to the foot of the hills and you'll find yourself in the heart of Edinburgh - Princes Street, one of the busiest streets in Europe. It will take you to the New Town, nestled under the shadow of medieval buildings at the far end of the valley. This elegant complex of streets and circular squares is a fine example of 18th century urban planning.
It is a pleasant time in the capital to leisurely explore the numerous museums and galleries that house works of art created from the Middle Ages to the postmodern era.
Edinburgh is not only the administrative, historical, but also the gastronomic center of Scotland. There are more restaurants per capita than any other city in the UK. The lively cafés on the Royal Mile and the spacious Grassmarket near the castle offer a great place to dine to the accompaniment of music. On the Royal Mile is the Deacon Brodie Tavern, described in Robert Stevenson's creepy The Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Rose Street is famous for its pubs, where fans are happy or sad after rugby competitions. On the same street is one of the best cafes in Edinburgh - Abbotsford.
Borderlands and eastern lands
Traveling south from Edinburgh along a road through picturesque hills, you will find yourself in the border areas with England. This part of Scotland was always the first to repel the Romans and English, holding back their attempts to break through to the north. Today it is a peaceful pastoral land with rolling ridges of green hills and clear river streams. The main occupation of local residents is farming, making tweed and knitwear. The River Tweed flows here and is an excellent place for trout and salmon fishing.
On the south bank of the river is the Abbotsford estate, built in the early 19th century by Sir Walter Scott to his own design. A nice house, built in the Old Scots style, looks out onto the river and looks incredibly romantic. Abbotsford, still owned by one of Scott's descendants, is filled with memories of the famous writer. There is a museum here that houses a fine collection of historical relics, armor and weapons, including Rob Roy's gun, Montrose's sword and Prince Charles Edward's cup.
Drive 3km further south to the charming town of Melrose, nestled at the foot of the triple ridge of the Eildon Hills. On one of the eastern slopes there is a Roman fortress, from where there is a magnificent view of the hills running west towards Galloway. In the city itself, the most impressive thing is the ruins of the Melrose Abbey of the 12th century, which still remains an architectural poem. The city also gained fame from the local sports club’s invention of the “play with seven” variety of rugby, which became famous throughout the world. In the cities of the border regions there is a special passion for rugby. There are picturesque medieval monasteries nearby: Dryborough, where Walter Scott is buried, Kelso and Jedborough.
There are some particularly impressive stately estates in the south of Scotland, where you can admire outstanding collections of paintings and furniture. Among them are Floors Castle, the residence of the Duke of Roxborough, one of the castles of the Duke of Buccleich - Bowhill, the house of the Earls of Haddington - Mellerstein, built in the 18th century by the famous Scottish architect Robert Adam.
East of Edinburgh, south of the Firth of Forth, lies the historic site of Lothian. The hills and fields are lush and the golf courses are some of the best in the UK. Aberlady Bay has excellent bird watching spots, as well as wonderful dune-lined sandbars and many castles.
10 km from the coast, near the town of Haddington, Lennoxlaw is located - the residence of the Duke of Hamilton. The city itself, with carefully restored buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, is also worth a visit.
On the east coast is St Abbs Head Nature Reserve. It is located on a picturesque rocky cape jutting into the North Sea. This is a bird's paradise: colonies of guillemots, cormorants, fulmars, herring gulls and auks nest on the rocks here. These sites offer some of the best scuba diving in all of Scotland. Divers must obtain permission from the reserve ranger.
On the northern side of the wide, silvery Firth of Forth lies the county of Fife. There are mines and industrial enterprises everywhere, but the life of the local towns and villages is distinguished by its originality and charm. In the western part of this land, at the head of the river, is the village of Culross, here you can see the best preserved and most picturesque houses that were built in the cities of Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.
To the east is the ancient capital of the Scottish kingdom, Dunfermline. Its main attraction is the beautiful 12th-century cathedral, where one of Scotland's greatest kings, Robert the Bruce, was buried in 1329.
To the north of Dunfermline, on the coast of the headland of Fife Ness, there are picturesque fishing ports - Earlsferry, Scat Monans, Pittenweem, Anstruther and Crail. Nearby you'll see Falkland Palace, the Stuart hunting seat, the elegant Tarwith House with a fine collection of furniture, tapestries, paintings and Kelly's 14th-century castle.
Fife's most famous town is St Andrews. This is the birthplace of golf and is home to the famous Old Course, which has been played for 800 years. St Andrews is also home to one of the oldest British universities, founded in 1412. This city has many magnificent buildings, and it is also famous for the fact that for a long time it was the religious center of Scotland. Church reformer John Knox preached his first sermon here.
Western lands
On the banks of the River Clyde, 22 km from its delta, lies the largest city in Scotland - Glasgow. During the Middle Ages it was an established religious and educational center of the kingdom, and the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century turned it into one of the most economically developed and populous cities in Great Britain. Glasgow grew rich through shipbuilding and heavy engineering, and at the end of the 19th century it became the second largest city in Scotland. Its solid manufacturing base was destroyed during the economic recession of the 1970s. True, the recession was followed by the economic and cultural boom of the 90s, and not so long ago the EU recognized Glasgow as a “city of high culture”.
Not everything in Glasgow's cultural image is the result of recent decades. The 12th-century cathedral in the Old Town is the only Scottish medieval church to escape destruction during the Reformation. Opposite it you can see the three-story Provendes Lordship building - this is the oldest secular building in the city (1471), which has now become a museum. The old part also houses the Glasgow School of Art; the western wing of the building was built by the architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928), one of the founders of the Art Nouveau style. In Glasgow, you should definitely visit the University Museum and the Art Gallery, which is second only to the Tate Gallery in London in terms of the number of visitors. An impressive collection of paintings is exhibited here, including works by a group of artists from the end of the last century, the Glasgow Boys, who worked in the style of impressionism and post-impressionism, as well as Scottish painters who worked in the post-war years.
The highway passes through the center of Glasgow and then crosses the River Clyde into Ayrshire. It is the birthplace of Robert Burns and the area of famous resorts such as Larget, Troon, Prestwick and Girvan. From Wemes Bay there is a ferry to the islands of Bute and Millport, and from Ardrossan to Arran, a favorite Sunday destination for Scots living on the West Coast. Ayrshire has some of the best golf courses in Scotland. Among them are three venues for the Open Championship, where it was first held in 1860.
Not far from the coastal town of Ayr, in provincial Alloway, stands the house where the iconic Scottish poet Robert Burns was born into a peasant family in 1759. Next to it there is a modern building that houses a museum dedicated to the author of the immortal ballads.
On the coast near the town of Kirkoswald stands Culzean Castle, one of the greatest creations of the architect Robert Adam. Here you can admire a wonderful collection of paintings, weapons, furniture and porcelain.
South of Ayrshire along the Solway Firth are Dumfries, Galloway and other pretty towns and villages. Then they give way to wild heather heaths. This piece of land ends in the hammer-shaped Galloway Peninsula. The upper part of the "hammer" is separated from the sea by Loch Ryan, famous for its oysters. Stranraer is located in the harbor of the bay, the main port of departure from Scotland to Ireland.
Eight kilometers further north, towards the town of Dumfries, lie the impressive ruins of Sweetheart Abbey. Dumfries itself, located on the trout-loved River Nith, is the largest town in southwest Scotland. Robert Burns moved here late in his life. His house has been preserved and turned into a museum. A monument to the poet stands on High Street.
12 km south of Dumfries, on the banks of the Solway Firth, you will see the remains of the triangular moated fortress of Caerlaverock. It was a powerful fortification on the lands bordering England. In the 17th century, the Earl of Nithsdale built a classical mansion inside the ruins, thus creating one of the most extravagant architectural complexes in Scotland.
Between Glasgow and Edinburgh is the city of Stirling, which claims to be the true capital of Scotland. His whole story is an illustration of Scotland's struggle for its independence. Stirling Castle, the most important defensive stronghold in Scotland, seems to grow from a high rock, personifying the rebellion and courage of the Scots. The British captured it several times, but they were unable to hold on for long. From 1307 to 1603 the castle was the residence of the Stuarts. Here we also recommend visiting the Church of the Holy Cross and Kembuskennet Abbey.
At the time of the confrontation between Scotland and England, it was believed that the party controlling the castle was the owner of the entire Kingdom of Scotland, and today the ancient city of Stirling is called the brooch that binds the southern Lowlands and the northern Highlands.
Highland
The historical Highland region occupies almost a third of Scotland's territory, but barely more than 10% of its population lives here. There are so many picturesque corners on this earth that you could spend your whole life looking into each of them.
The southern boundary of the Highlands, bordering the Lowlands, divides Scotland diagonally from the Mull of Kintyre, a narrow strip of land stretching from the county of Argyll on the west coast, to Stoneghvane, which lies on the east coast, south of Aberdeen, the third largest city. Scotland. After large oil reserves were discovered in the North Sea in the 1970s, the center of the UK oil industry emerged here.
Aberdeen's convenient strategic location turned the city into a royal domain back in the Middle Ages, which contributed to its economic and cultural development. The local university, founded in 1495, is one of the five oldest in Great Britain. Aberdeen is often called the “Silver City” due to the fact that the quartz crystals in the granite from which the city's buildings were erected sparkle expressively in the sun.
80 km east of Aberdeen, on the hills of Royal Deeside, lies the Balmoral Estate, founded in the 15th century. Since 1848 it has been owned by the royal family, whose members spend part of the summer here. The castle is closed to the public, but when the crowned heads leave it, the castle park becomes accessible to the public. On the way to the royal estate you will see many magnificent castles. All of them are distinguished by their original style and furnishings, beautiful stucco ceilings, and valuable collections of works of art.
It’s best to start your journey through the north-west Highlands from Glasgow. The highway leading north from this city almost immediately leads out into the Highlands, and stretches along the shores of Loch Lomond, the largest freshwater body of water in Great Britain, 37 km long and 8 km at its widest point. These places are illuminated by an amazing soft light, giving a magical mystery to the medieval castles and steep hills surrounding the lake. Beyond Loch Lomond rises Ben Lomond, an eternal challenge to climbers, one of the Munros, as Scotland’s 282 “three-thousander” peaks (3,000 feet = 914 m) are called.
To the northeast of these places lies the city of Fort William with its magnificent 17th-century fortifications. Fort William is a busy Highland crossroads with a wide range of travel routes for tourists. One of them is laid to the popular corner of the Scottish Highlands - Glencoe. This deep, incredibly picturesque valley stretches 11 km from Loch Leven to Rannoch Moor. Glencoe is home to the historic site of the Valley of Weeping. Here in 1692, the troops of the English king William III attacked the MacDonald clan, slaughtering the entire population as punishment for the slowness shown by the head of the clan in expressing loyalty to the English king.
Rannoch Mor is 155 km² of peat bogs, moorland, lakes and meandering river streams. The inhabitants of the plain are waterfowl, larks, plovers, red deer, and plump trout are found in the local brown peat lakes. A beautiful panorama of these places opens up to tourists traveling along the railway, laid at an altitude of 400 m above sea level.
Bus excursions depart from Fort William to the legendary Loch Ness, where tourists flock in the hope of meeting the famous Scottish monster. Most likely, you will never be able to see the serpentine contours on the smooth surface of the lake, but you can always admire the picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle, located in these parts.
To the north-east of Fort William is the historical site of Culloden Moor, where in 1746 a battle took place between the Scots under the leadership of Charles Edward Stuart, a contender for the British throne, and government troops under the command of the Duke of Cumberland. The Scots were defeated, and today along the road leading to these places there are stones marking their graves. The battle took place near Old Lenagh Farm. It still exists today, becoming the Culloden House Museum.
To the west, along the River Spey, lie the rich lands of the Lay of Moray. The distilleries where most of the malt whiskey is produced are located here. Some of them are open to visitors. Here you can watch the process of making Gaelic “aqua vitae”, and even have a drink at the end of the tour.
The road leading west from Fort William to the town of Mallaig passes through some stunning panoramic views. Passing Loch Shiel, you will find yourself in Lochalort with its magnificent views of the sea and rocky islets in the clear waters of Loch nan Uam. Then see how its rocky shores give way to the silver, dazzling sands of the coastal areas of Morar and Arisaig. Further from the shore stretch mountains, reflected in the dark waters of Loch Morar, the deepest lake in Great Britain, whose depth exceeds 300 m. Here, they say, lives a monster no less mysterious than the Loch Ness reptile.
Mallaig itself is a small but picturesque port with ferries to the Hebrides. Heading further north from Mallaig, you will see one of the most beautiful lakes in Scotland - Loch Maree, wonderful gardens in Inverie on Loch Ive, and watch how the landscapes change, gradually acquiring the harsh outlines of lunar landscapes.
The road to the north will lead to Inverness, the administrative center of the Highlands and the largest city in Northern Scotland. Fans of Shakespeare know it as the birthplace of King Macbeth, but this is not true, but the medieval Inverness Castle described by the poet, built on a rock, is quite real. Occupying a strategic position at the mouth of the Ness River, it has survived more than one siege and witnessed the most important historical events.
Today Inverness is a major trading center and a port from where ferries depart to the far north of Scotland - to the Orkney and Shetland Islands.
Islands
In the very north of Great Britain, between the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, lie two archipelagos: Orkney and Shetland. The first is separated from the northern tip of Scotland by 10 km, the second by 150 km. A significant part of the islands and islets belonging to both archipelagos are uninhabited.
On this pristine land, open to the elements of the sea and the sky, the masters are rocks, hills and mountains. The shores of the islands, which are often hit by high, powerful waves, are steep, cut by deep fjords and bays. The cliffs on some islands rise more than three hundred meters. Nature demonstrates here a variety of rocks - red and gray granites, black labradorite, pink and brown quartz, gray and white limestones.
There are also low, gently sloping shores, which look like slippery, algae-covered, randomly piled up boulders and slabs. In some bays, marshy shores unexpectedly turn into luxurious beaches with white sand.
Due to the continuous winds, the weather here is unstable, but thanks to the warm sea current, it cannot be called harsh. The most comfortable time is June-July. At this time there is light 19 hours a day, the day is mostly clear, but the wind can bring cold temperatures or thick fog at any moment. When going to the islands, you should take care of waterproof clothing and shoes.
At the end of spring and beginning of summer, everything is in bloom here, and numerous birds that have chosen these places hatch and raise their offspring. In July, birds change their plumage and prepare to travel to warmer climes. Watching them through binoculars is a very interesting experience.
The largest of the Orkney Islands is Mainland, where 75% of the archipelago's population lives. The towns of Stromness and Kirkwall are located here. The coast north of Stromness offers one of the most exciting seaside cliff excursions in Britain. In Kirkwall it is interesting to see the ruins of buildings from the Norman period and the Earl's Palace - one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Scotland.
On the east coast of Mainland you can see a beautifully preserved Neolithic settlement dating back to around 3000 BC. e. and the huge burial mound of Maes How.
There is only one town in Shetland, Lerwick, but there is an airport with links to most Scottish airports, with frequent flights due to the oil wells located there. New oil fields in the North Sea significantly reduced tourism opportunities for some time, but today it has been revived, and Shetland's antiquities have regained the attention of travelers.
10km west of Lerwick, wander through the picturesque ruins of Scalloway Castle. On the small island of Mausa, see a well-preserved Iron Age structure called a broch (tower fortress). On the island of Unst, admire Manes Castle.
The Hebrides Islands are widely spread out in the ocean off the north-west coast of Scotland. The archipelago includes about 500 islands, large and very tiny. It is often cloudy and rainy here, and leaden waves crash on the coast. But the weather here is changeable, and quickly replaces anger with mercy, delighting with the sun and calm sea, which suddenly acquires a piercing blue, “tropical” color.
The largest island of the archipelago is Skye. From the fjords in the east to the rugged Cullin Mountains and rocky coastline in the east, Skye is a microcosm of the wild Celtic spirit that pervades Scotland. The Cullin Range is a 10-kilometer chain of mountain peaks, 15 of which exceed 900 m. At the foot of the massif lies the Glen Slighan valley, 13 km south of it is Loch Skavaig. The romantic Armadale Castle is located in these places.
In the north-west of the island stands the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland - Dunvegan. The heads of the MacLeod clan have ruled here for more than 800 years. Now the family of the 30th head of the clan, Hugh MacLeod, lives in the castle. A visit to the castle with a walk in its gardens - £ 10. Entrance for guests is open from 10:00 to 17:00.
In Dunvegan, a mile south of the castle, book a boat trip. The ship sails to the habitat of harbor seals, and you can go fishing from board.
On the Isle of Lewis there is a mysterious structure made of vertically installed stone blocks forming a circle. This megalithic complex is believed to have been built in the late Neolithic era, and is associated with the cult of the Moon.
Leisure
The Scots love sports. Particularly popular here are golf, rugby, curling, football, mountaineering, sailing regattas, surfing, and scuba diving. Scotland has created an excellent infrastructure for active recreation, which has become a reliable support for the tourism industry, which was initially focused on historical attractions.
For hiking enthusiasts, there are an incredible number of trails that stretch along the coastline, along the slopes of steep cliffs and protected wilderness areas. Some difficult routes can only be walked with a guide.
Those who like to travel by bicycle will also be pleased. For cyclists, there are special paths in forest and rural areas, along the sides of railway tracks and highways, where traffic is not very busy.
There are over 500 superb golf courses scattered across Scotland. The best of them are located on its east coast.
Scotland's intricately rugged coastline, its rivers, lakes, and island waters make this region one of the best places in the world for water sports. Fans of water recreation can only choose between yachting, rafting, water skiing, diving, and surfing.
Horse riding is also popular here. On noble horses and sturdy Scottish ponies, you can take short walks along the coast or go on a long tour through the interior regions of the country.
There are 5 ski areas in Scotland with resorts of different price categories, where all conditions are created for both professionals and beginners, even the smallest. Here you will find not only alpine skiing, but also snowboarding and freeriding. In addition, the resorts regularly host interesting events, such as the Aviemore Husky Sled Dog Rally, where you can take part in dog-drawn sled races.
Educational tours
People often travel to Scotland, as well as to England, to learn English and immerse themselves in the language environment. Schoolchildren and students, middle-aged and older people go on educational tours. Training here lasts all year round, the minimum course duration is a week.
It is better to send your children to educational centers-schools aimed at children from 8 to 16 years old during the holidays. This provides an excellent opportunity to combine training with active recreation and educational excursions.
The cost of a 2-3-week educational tour to Scotland, depending on the chosen program, ranges from £2000 to £5000.
Scottish cuisine
Scotland has always been famous for the quality of its beef. Cattle raised on mountain pastures produce excellent steaks. Their taste is well emphasized by cream, oatmeal sauce and whiskey. Salmon from Scotland's lakes and rivers is also renowned throughout the world, as is local seafood.
Lamb dishes are popular in Scotland. Among them, of course, is the legendary “haggis” - a lamb stomach stuffed with oatmeal and generously seasoned with spices and giblets with internal fat. Game dishes are no less famous; partridge and pheasant are especially good; they are prepared with raspberries, currants, and wild berries.
Tourists like local sweet dishes - oatmeal flavored with cream and honey, puddings with dried fruits, ice cream made from natural fresh milk.
Like all of Europe, Scotland is home to international fast food chains, but for a quick and inexpensive meal, it's much nicer to head to a café or pub that serves home-cooked food. In addition to the popular beer, sherry, brandy and port, the pub menu usually includes dishes such as soups, beef and kidney or pork pies, lard casserole, scrambled eggs, rolls and the always popular “Ploughman’s Lunch” of bread, cheese, pickles and lettuce.
The Scots love their national product – whiskey. There are more than 100 distilleries here, each of which produces its own elite varieties of this drink. Those who enjoy tasting this fiery product should take one of the whiskey tours offered by most travel agencies.
What to buy
If you want to buy a solid and beautiful piece of memory of Scotland, buy a stylish wool sweater from famous local manufactories with history (from £90) or silver jewelry (the best are sold in the northern, “Celtic” areas). A great buy is a kilt or blanket (from £90 to £190), or something more modest - a soft and cozy tartan scarf (under £20).
Popular souvenirs from Scotland include metal and wood crafts with national symbols, leather belts, and stylish belt buckles. Delicious gifts - oatmeal cookies, heather tea and, of course, real Scotch whiskey.
Where to stay
There is a wide range of accommodation available throughout Scotland, from chic rooms in modern hotels and ancient castles to cozy bed and breakfasts in family farmhouses. Modern hotels here are expensive and often faceless, unlike rural cottage-hotels, where comfortable accommodation with a charming interior is at your service. Many of them are located in old houses. The cost of accommodation varies depending on the location and the range of services provided, but daily room rental is unlikely to cost less than £60.
It would be a shame to visit Scotland and not spend at least a night in one of the medieval castles. If you want to dine by candlelight in a knight's hall or dungeon, take part in quests based on detective novels, and at dawn, open the window and let in the muted ghostly light into your abode, breaking through the fog and intoxicating with the freshness of the air, you will have to pay for a double room not less than £160 per day.
Some medieval castles house youth camps and English language teaching centers. Old buildings also often house hostels and apartments. The minimum price for a hostel stay is £30 (room with 8 beds and shared facilities).
Safety
Crime in Scotland is quite low, helped by the presence of CCTV cameras everywhere. But, as in any other country, pickpockets are not uncommon in crowded places, so you should not keep large amounts of cash on you. Some areas of Glasgow have a bad reputation, but in the Highlands local residents often don’t even lock their house doors and leave their car keys in the car.
In case of an unpleasant incident, you need to call the single number 999 (police, ambulance, fire).
Transport
All settlements in Scotland are connected by bus and train services. But while a bus trip from Edinburgh to Glasgow costs just £4, a 50-minute journey on the Edinburgh – Glasgow train will cost £13-22 (1st class tickets are 50% more expensive). In Scottish cities, buses predominate on public routes, but in some places tram lines have been preserved. Ticket price: £1.2-1.5.
Black, old-fashioned Scottish taxis are copies of spacious London cabs. On free cars, the yellow light on the roof is on. The fare is recorded by the meter, converting yards and miles traveled into pounds. First kilometer - £3.75. Then 60 pence is added to them for every 169 m.
You can travel to any of Scotland's 60 islands by sea ferries. The cost of a trip up to 1 hour is £ 5-8. Small planes fly to the remote Shetland and Orkney islands.
In remote mountainous provinces and islands, passengers are transported by Royal Mail minibuses that can accommodate from 2 to 6 fellow travelers. Renting a car gives you complete freedom of movement. Economy class car rental costs from £23/day. Traffic here is on the left, and you should be aware of the nuances of local traffic regulations. For example, the maximum speed in urban areas is 48 km/h (in Edinburgh - 30 km/h). The speed is controlled by automatic recorders installed everywhere. The fine for exceeding the limit is £1,000, for not wearing seat belts (including passengers) is £500, and for excess ppm of alcohol in the blood you need to pay £5,000, and you can end up behind bars.
Glasgow has one of the oldest metro systems in the world. The first subway stations opened at the end of the nineteenth century. After the modernization of the metro, sleek orange trains appeared here, moving with the precision of a chronometer. The townspeople nicknamed their subway “A Clockwork Orange.” A single ticket will cost you £1, a day ticket will cost you £1.90.
How to get there
There are no regular direct flights from the Russian Federation to Scottish cities. However, you can get to the airports of Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh with a transfer in London or at international airports in other European capitals.
Low-cost airlines offer the lowest cost of flights to Glasgow from Moscow and back. For example, the British discounter easyJet regularly operates flights from Domodedovo Airport to Glasgow with a transfer in London (Heathrow airport). Tickets should be booked in advance; it is convenient to make a request online. The cost of a return flight in economy class on Airbus A-321 is 309 € (taxes included, meals paid on board if desired). Distance: 2546 km, travel time – 4 hours 20 minutes.
If you take the initiative and take full advantage of the capabilities of the World Wide Web, you can fly to Scotland even cheaper. Book your tickets several months in advance, prices will increase as your desired travel date approaches.
High-speed trains run from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Travel time is 4.5 and 5 hours respectively. A train ticket is expensive, around £100.
By car from Moscow to Scotland using the shortest route you need to cover about 3,650 km. On this journey you will travel along excellent European highways through Belarus, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, use the English Channel tunnel (50 km, the car will be transported by train), and cross Britain from south to north.