Early History

The recorded history of Scotland begins in the 1st century AD when the
Romans invaded Britain. The Romans added southern Britain to their empire as
the province Britannia. They were unable, however, to subdue the fierce tribes
in the north. To keep these tribes from invading Britannia, Emperor Hadrian had
a massive wall built across the island from sea to sea. The Romans called the
land north of the wall Caledonia, and they called the people Picts—from the
Latin pictus, meaning “painted”—because they painted their bodies. Parts of
Hadrian’s Wall still stand on the Scottish border.

In the 5th century Celtic immigrants from Ireland, called Scots, settled north of
the Clyde. The Scots were already Christians when they left Ireland. In the next
century, St. Columba converted the king of the Picts to Christianity. In the 9th
century Kenneth MacAlpine, king of the Scots added the Pictish kingdom to his
own. In about the 10th century the land came to be known as Scotland.

After the Normans conquered England in 1066, many Anglo-Saxons from

England settled in the Lowlands of Scotland. Here the Scots gradually adopted
English ways. Feudalism was established, and the chiefs of the clans became
nobles. Towns grew, trade increased, and Scotland prospered.
Battles for Independence
In 1290 Margaret, heiress to the throne died. Thirteen claimants contested the
Crown. Edward I of England claimed the right to bestow it and made John de
Baliol King. When Edward asked de Baliol for help against the French he
entered into na alliance with France instead. For 260 years Scotland held to this
so-called “auld alliance” with England’s enemy.

Edward crossed the border in 1296, took John de Baliol prisoner, and
proclaimed himself king of Scotland. To symbolise the union he carried off the
ancient Stone of Scone, on which Scottish kings had long been crowned, and
placed it in Westminster Abbey where it lay beneath the coronation chair.The
Scots rose again. Led by William Wallace, they routed the English at Stirling
Bridge in 1297 and pursued them across the border. The next year Edward
returned and inflicted a disastrous defeat on the Scots at Falkirk. Wallace was
later captured and executed, and the English hung his head from London
Bridge. This part of the history of Scotland was the foundation for the film
“Braveheart”.
The Scottish spirit was still unbroken, and the Scots soon found another great
champion in Robert the Bruce. The last great battle in the war for independence
was fought in 1314 at Bannockburn, near Stirling Castle. There Bruce inflicted a
disastrous defeat on superior English forces led by Edward II. In 1328 Edward
III formally recognised Scotland’s independence.

In the later Middle Ages, Scotland suffered from weak kings and powerful
nobles. For two centuries there was a constant struggle between the Crown and
the barons. Border clashes with England also continued. James IV of Scotland
married Margaret, daughter of Henry VII of England, in 1503. When Henry VIII
went to war with France in 1512, however, James IV invaded England. He fell,
“riddled with arrows,” at Flodden Field in the last great border battle (1513).

James V died brokenhearted after his army had been slaughtered at Solway
Moss (1542). The throne went to his infant daughter, Mary Stuart.
Capital Of Stocland

Edinburgh, capital city of Stotland, located in southeastern Scotland

with its centre near the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, an arm of
the North Sea that thrusts westward into the Scottish Lowlands. The city
and its immediate surroundings constitute an independent council
area. The city and most of the council area, including the busy port
of Leith on the Firth of Forth, lie within the historic county of Midlothian,
but the council area also includes an area in the northwest, around
South Queensferry, in the historic county of West Lothian.Although
Edinburgh absorbed surrounding villages and the Firth of Forth ports
between 1856 and 1920, its aesthetic and political heart still lies in its
small historic core, comprising the Old Town and the New Town. The
Old Town, built up in the Middle Ages when the fear of attack was
constant, huddles high on the Castle Rock overlooking the surrounding
plain. The New Town, in contrast, spreads out in a magnificent
succession of streets, crescents, and terraces. The medieval Old Town
and the Neoclassical New Town were designated a UNESCO World
Heritage site in 1995.
Population Growth of Scotland
The population of Scotland has been increasing every decade since 1970’s
from that point. There was a modest reduction in the population of the country
during the 1970’s and 1990’s. The population of the country dropped from 5.229
Million in the year 1971 to 5.062 Million in 2001.
Looking back last twelve years, the population growth of Scotland is slow but
consistent ranging from 0.09% to 0.93% adding 5,000 to 50,000 people to the
overall population
The largest ethnic group in Scotland is the white community, estimated to be
around 96.02% of the population. Although, only 83.95% of the population
verified that they are white. The other substantial ethnic groups in the country
includes:

 Asians (2.66% of the population)

 African (0.56% of the population)
 Mixed races (0.37% of the population)
 Caribbean or Black (0.11% of the population).

SCOTLAND ON THE MAP

Located in the north west of Europe, Scotland Occupying the northern
third of Great Britain we share a border with England in the south and
pack some of the most stunning scenery in all of the UK into our borders.
From wild coastlines and pristine beaches to rolling valleys and towering
mountains, Scotland’s geography is a huge part of its appeal. If that’s not
enough, we are strategically placed near the best of Europe and beyond,
making us the perfect destination for work and play.

As well as a mainland jam-packed with things to see and do, Scotland is

also home to almost 800 small islands. In the north of the country you’ll
find the majestic Shetland Isles and Orkney Isles, both steeped in a
magical mix of Scottish, Celtic and Norse history and culture.

In the west you’ll find incredible archipelagos such as the Outer

Hebrides, home to incredible pristine beaches that are regularly mistaken
for Caribbean islands in photographs, and the Inner Hebrides, site of one
of the jewels in the crown of Scottish scenery, the Isle of Skye.

Scotland is surrounded by a number of bodies of water depending on the

coast, with the North Sea in the east separating us from Europe’s
Scandinavian states, and the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west
separating us from Iceland, the USA and Canada. To the south-west you
will find the Irish Sea, which separates us from our Irish neighbours.
 Traditional Scottish foods

The country is home to a magnitude of comforting traditional dishes as

well as innovative modern inventions. Historically in Scotland, food and
drink was based around staples such as seafood, cereals and
vegetables, as well as meats like rabbit and venison. Dishes were made
from affordable locally produced fare, resulting in hearty stews, soups
and porridges that were perfect for the blustery weather, and can still be
found in homes and on menus today.

1. Stovies
Stovies remains a firm favourite in Scotland today, although, given that it is
primarily enjoyed at home, it can be tricky to find it on menus. You are most
likely to find it in small cafes and traditional pubs – the types of places that
serve unpretentious comfort food.

2 Balmoral Chicken
Balmoral chicken (also known as Highland chicken) consists of chicken breast
stuffed with haggis and wrapped in bacon. It is typically served with mashed
potatoes and vegetables and covered in a whisky cream or peppercorn sauce.
The dish’s origins are a little mysterious – not much is known about how it came
to be. However, chances are that it was named after the Royal Family’s Scottish
residence, Balmoral Castle – perhaps because it was once served at the grand
estate. Nowadays, the dish is enjoyed at restaurants and pubs with more
traditional Scottish food, and it is also sometimes served as the main course on
Burns Night, when the life of beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns is celebrated
with a hearty feast.
3.Cullen skink
Cullen skink is a thick soup made from smoked haddock, potatoes and onions.
The recipe changes slightly from town to town, with variations such as the
addition of milk or cream. While the more traditional options call for the finnan
haddie – cold-smoked haddock – a popular replacement is Arbroath smokies,
which come from the town of Arbroath in Angus. This hardwood-smoked
haddock has protected status and can only be called as such if smoked in the
traditional way within five miles of the town.
Where does Scottish Slang come from?
Many of the words most commonly used in modern Scotland are borrowed from
Scots, a 600-year-old language with Germanic origins. Around 60,ooo people
still speak Gaelic, but only a seldom few words have made it into daily Scottish
usage. Some words are easy to understand, being more to do with
pronunciation than anything else.

For some reason there seems to be a lot of assumption about Scots being more
aggressive than their southern neighbours. I mean, I won’t deny they are
passionate folk, but it goes both ways, as well as some of the angriest words
spoken, since being in Scotland I’ve definitely heard some of the most
affectionate too.

Hen– being perhaps the most widely recognised. Not to be confused with the
feathery fowl, but instead referring to a female, often a younger lady, used as a
Scottish term of endearment, much like honey or sweetheart might be used
further South.

If aforementioned hen was a particularly lovely looking girl, she might be

referred to as a bonnie lass (pretty or beautiful).

And if you have found yourself out for na evening in any local Scottish
establishment, don’t be surprised to find the gorgeous people surrounding
yourself described as braw (men) and tidy (women).

It can also be very confusing in Scotland, often something that sounds like na
insult can actually be a term of endearment. ‘Awright ya wee bawbag?’ (a
bawbag being a scrotum) is a greeting only really used between close pals. In
the right context it is no more offensive than saying ‘Hello, how are you my
friend?’.

And then we have ‘Lang mae yer lum reek‘, which sounds like it would be
announced accompanied by na unpleasant smell, but is in fact a pleasant
Scottish sentiment, originally translated from ‘long may your chimney smoke’
and now meaning something akin to I wish you a long and healthy life.

CURRENCY
In Scotland, the unit of currency is the pound (£), which is used throughout the
entire UK. All major credit cards can also be used across Scotland, with Visa
and MasterCard being most widely accepted.

Scotland has its own bank notes that look different to those in the rest of the
UK, however their value is the same. Both Scottish and UK-wide notes can be
used throughout Scotland.
BANKING
With more than 300 years of banking experience, your money is in safe hands
in Scotland. With a large variety of banks offering different types of services, we
have everything to meet your financial needs. Most banks in Scotland are open
Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5:00pm. In addition, many banks are also
open on a Saturday morning.

You’ll find cash machines (ATM) everywhere in our larger towns and cities, and
most rural areas will have at least one place where you can withdraw cash. Our
cash machines will accept international bank cards and credit cards, as long as
they have a four-digit PIN code.
COST OF LIVING
Compared to the rest of Europe, and cities like London, Zurich, Paris, Dublin,
New York and San Francisco, Scotland is a less expensive location to live and
work.

Cost of living expenses (excluding accommodation) in Scotland’s cities relative

to New York City are 38% less expensive in Aberdeen, 37% less expensive in
Dundee, 34% less expensive in Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, and 31% less
expensive in the capital, Edinburgh.