In the north of the island of Great Britain, is located Scotland – a country with a beautiful wildlife, inhabited by a proud people lover of freedom. Southern neighbors often reproach Scots for being stingy, but how can they not become stingy if nothing really grows on stony soils, meadows, forests and lakes belong to their own rich clans or to the English foreigners who have captured the country and the sea surrounding the country is so stormy and timeless that every fishing trip may be the last? Even so, the Scots managed to get out of poverty. Here’s 20 Interesting Facts About Scotland:
They turned their land into a powerful industrial region. The price was high – millions of Scots were forced to leave their homeland. Many of them have achieved success in a foreign land, thus glorifying their country. And wherever the Scotsman is, he always honors his homeland and remembers its history and traditions.
Northern end of the island of Great Britain
Scotland is the northern end of the island of Great Britain and over 790 adjacent islands with a total area of 78,700 km2. This territory is home to 5.3 million people. The country is an autonomous part of Britain with its own Parliament and Prime Minister. In 2016, Scots held a referendum on the issue of separation from the UK, but supporters of separation won only 44.7% of the vote.
English are not appreciated in Scotland
Despite the rather discouraging results of the referendum (preliminary polls predicted approximate equality of votes), the English are not appreciated in Scotland. Calling the Scots “English” runs the risk of physical abuse, although the Scots are a very good-natured people.
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Scotland is a very beautiful country.
The mild, cool and humid climate is favorable for vegetation, and the terrain falls from low mountains (Highlands) in the south to gentle plains (Lowlands) in the north. Typical Scottish relief is low hills with small forests and lakes surrounded by rocks, among them in the north of the country and forest-covered rocks in the south and on the sea coast.
Scottish lakes are known all over the world.
Not in number (there are more than 600, and in Finland they reach thousands) and not in depth (there are deeper lakes in the world). But there is no hope of finding Nessie in any lake in the world, but there is in Scottish Loch Ness. And while few people ever believe in the existence of a mysterious underwater giant, Loch Ness attracts tens of thousands of travelers. And if you can’t see Nessie, you can just go fishing. Fishing in Scotland is also amazing.
People have lived in Scotland for about 10,000 years.
The settlement of Skara Brae is believed to have been inhabited by people in the 4th millennium BC. The local tribes were able to repel the Romans, who during their conquest advanced just beyond Scotland’s current southern border, thanks to the terrain’s rugged nature and complexity. In fact, there was no Roman occupation of Scotland. The first conquerors to subjugate the Scots were the English, so dear to them. Skara Brae
Officially, Scotland’s history as a single state began in 843.
The first king was Kenneth McAlpin, who managed to unite until then dispersed tribes. One of the tribes was the Scots, who named the state after him. The Normans, who founded England as a state, landed on the island just two centuries later.
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English clash with Scotland
As soon as England gained strength, the endless clashes with Scotland began, which continued until 1707. In addition to military pressure methods, political methods were also used. Thus, in 1292, the English king, who nobly offered to be a judge in a dispute between candidates for the Scottish throne, appointed the winner of the candidate who agreed to recognize the suzerainy (supremacy) of England. Other candidates did not agree with this, and a series of riots and wars began, which lasted more than 400 years. Firewood was thrown into the fire by foreign powers who did not want the strengthening of England (as history shows, they did not, with good reason).
There were also religious conflicts. Scottish Presbyterian, Catholics and English Protestants took pleasure in slaughtering the wrong brothers in Christ. As a result, in 1707, the “Act of Union” was signed, which established the unification of the two kingdoms in terms of their autonomy. The Scottish rebelled slightly more, but the British very instantly forgot about their independence. The situation remained until 1999, once the Scottish were granted their own parliament.
The Union has given a strong impetus to Scotland’s development.
The country maintained the administrative and judicial system, which contributed to the development of the industry. Scotland has become one of the most powerful industrial regions in Europe. The increased use of machines liberated workers, leading to widespread unemployment at the same time, and the country’s emigration turned into an avalanche. The Scots were leaving, first of all, abroad, by the millions. Now the number of Scots in the world is comparable to the number of inhabitants of Scotland itself.
Invention of the steam engine
In fact, the industrial revolution began with the invention of the steam engine by The Scotsman James Watt. Watt patented his machine in 1775. The whole world knows inventions of the Scots like Alexander Fleming’s penicillin, John Byrd’s mechanical television or Alexander Bell’s phone. James Watt
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Arthur Conan Doyle was not Scottish
In many sources, Arthur Conan Doyle is called Scottish, but it is not so. The future writer was born in England into an Irish family and in Scotland studied only at the University of Edinburgh. This worthy educational institution is considered one of the best in Europe; Charles Darwin, James Maxwell, Robert Jung and other science magnifying ruminars formed in it. Did Arthur Conan Doyle do his homework as a student? Yes 48.63% No 28.53% No and does not go to 15.09% nothing asked 7.75% Voted: 163861
Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson are Scottish
But notable writers such as Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson are Scottish and both were born in Edinburgh. A major contribution to literature was made by Caledonia natives (this is another name for Scotland), such as Robert Burns, James Barry (“Peter Pan”) and Irwin Welsh (“Trainspotting”). Walter Scott
Whisky was not invented in Scotland
Although whisky was not invented in Scotland (it was made in Ireland or the Middle East in general), Scotch whisky is a proprietary national brand. As early as 1505, Edinburgh’s barbers’ guild of surgeons received a monopoly on its production and sale. Later, Hippocrates’ followers even forced the signing of a decree prohibiting the sale of whiskey to the people. We know perfectly well what these bans lead to – whiskey has begun to be produced in almost every backyard and the guild’s idea has failed.
Whiskey Heritage Centre
To promote whisky in Edinburgh in 1987, the Whiskey Heritage Centre was opened. It is a kind of combination of museum with pub – the price of any tour includes tasting various types of drink. There are about 4,000 varieties in the museum collection, more than 450 can be purchased in the restaurant, bar and shop. Prices are as varied as the varieties – from £5 to several thousand per bottle. The minimum price for a tour with tasting of 4 varieties is 27 pounds.
Scottish national dish – haggis.
They are by-products of lamb finely chopped with spices, cooked in sewn ram stomach. All of the former USSR’s European nations have dishes similar to these, but the Scots believe their handmade sausage counterpart is unique.
There is a disproportionate number of redheads among the Scots (and Irish).
They are about 12 to 14%, which seems a clear anomaly compared to 1 to 2% in the general human population and 5 to 6% among the inhabitants of northern Europe. The scientific explanation for this phenomenon is very simple – red hair and white skin help the body produce vitamin D. By turning this argument, we can say that the remaining 86 – 88% of the Scots and Irish manage perfectly with a small amount of this vitamin, and those who live literally 200 km to the north, the British, among whom there are almost no redheads, they don’t need it at all. Redhead Day in Edinburgh
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Edinburgh is proud to have the world’s first regular fire brigade.
Much less known is the fact that 2 months after the formation of the unit in 1824, Edinburgh firefighters were powerless in the face of the Great Edinburgh Fire, which destroyed 400 homes in the city. The fire started in a small engraving workshop. The crew arrived at the scene of the fire in time, but firefighters were unable to find a water tap. The fire spread across half the city and only heavy rain helped fight it on the fifth day of the fire. In a similar situation, in 2002, 13 buildings in the historic center of the city were completely destroyed.
June 24 is Scottish Independence Day.
On this day of 1314, Robert the Bruce’s army defeated the army of English King Edward II. Monument to Robert the Bruce
The kilt skirt was invented by Englishman
The clothes that are now presented as the national costume of the Scots were not invented by them. The kilt skirt was invented by Englishman Rawlinson, who sought to protect workers from his metallurgical from heatstroke. The chess of dense chess fabric was invented in Central Europe – with these clothes it was easier to climb the Alps. Other details of the outfit, such as high barrel, white shirt or purse on the belt, were invented before.
Scottish music is mostly bagpipe.
Melancholy, at first glance, the melodies perfectly convey both the beauty of the nature of the country and the national character of the Scots. In combination with the battery, the bagpipe or a set of bagpipes can create a unique impression. The Royal National Orchestra of Scotland is highly regarded not only in the country, but also abroad. For 8 years it was directed by Russian conductor Alexander Lazarev. Well, “Nazareth,” of course – the most successful Scottish rock band.
First international football match was hosted by Scottish National Team
The Scottish national football team was the participant and host of the first international match in the history of world football. On 30 November 1872, 4,000 spectators at Hamilton Crescent stadium in Patrick watched the match between Scotland and England, which ended with a 0–0 draw. Since then, Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have participated in international football tournaments as separate countries.
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