Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and the second-largest city. It has been the capital since 1437. The city is also a major European financial center and home to the Bank of Scotland, established in 1695 by the Scottish Parliament.

For centuries, Edinburgh has been an important cultural center not only for the British Isles but also for Europe as a whole. During the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, the city was nicknamed the Athens of the North because of its emphasis on learning and the fine arts. The so-called Scottish Enlightenment centered on the University of Edinburgh, which produced such notable figures as philosopher David Hume and economist Adam Smith.

In the twenty-first century, Edinburgh has become known as the Festival City, attracting millions of tourists each year to arts events including the Edinburgh Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (an alternative performing arts event), and the military demonstration known as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Landscape

Located in the lowlands region of Scotland, Edinburgh borders the long inlet known as the Firth of Forth, which flows into the North Sea. The city of Leith, now part of the greater metropolitan area, is Edinburgh's port.

Given its proximity to the sea, Edinburgh has a temperate maritime climate. There is fairly even rainfall throughout the year. The Water of Leith, the river that connects Edinburgh to the coastal waters known as the firth, begins in the Pentland Hills and flows through Edinburgh to the harbor.

The city's Old Town district is built on a volcanic hill or crag known as Castle Rock. The crag was formed by the cooling of the cores of volcanic vents, which created basalt volcanic plugs. Another such plug forms the hill known as Arthur's Seat, named for the legendary King Arthur.

The ruggedness of the terrain has been enhanced by glacial erosion. The road known as the Royal Mile, which runs from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, travels down the slope of Castle Rock's tail. Other summits include Carlton Hill, to the northeast, and Blackford Hill, to the south.

People

Edinburgh was home to approximately 526,470 people in 2021, according to the City of Edinburgh Council. Edinburgh's population is predominantly ethnically Scottish, reflecting the country's overall population. The city is also home to numerous residents of East Asian and South Asian descent. Since the University of Edinburgh was established in 1583, the city has been home to a large student population. The city's two other universities are Heriot-Watt, established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh and given university status in 1966, and Napier, established in 1964 as a technical college.

In summer, tourists flock to the Festival City to attend the many events that make up the Edinburgh Festival. Established in 1947, the festival has given rise to events such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which promotes alternative art forms and is one of the world's largest festivals of its kind. Some of the city's best-known festivals include the International Film Festival, the Jazz and Blues Festival, and the International Book Festival. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a nightly demonstration of bagpiping and fireworks, takes place each night on the Castle Esplanade.

At the heart of Edinburgh is Old Town, the city's oldest district, which grew up around Edinburgh Castle starting in the eleventh century. The neighboring city of Leith has served for many years as Edinburgh's port; although merged into Greater Edinburgh, it retains much of its distinctive character.

New Year's is one of Edinburgh's most popular holidays. New Year's Eve, known by the Scots term Hogmanay, is celebrated with customs that derive from the pagan winter solstice. New Year's Day is known as Ne'erday.

Economy

The public sector is a major part of Edinburgh's economy. In addition to serving as the center of Scottish government, Edinburgh has served as Scotland's financial center for hundreds of years and is also a major center of finance for the United Kingdom and Europe. Financial institutions headquartered there include the Bank of Scotland, established in 1695 by the Scottish Parliament, and the Royal Bank of Scotland, established in 1727 by a royal charter. While, according to the City of Edinburgh Council, the health sector represented 15.5 percent of employed people in the city in 2021, the financial and insurance sector represented 9.4 percent. Meanwhile, the digital tech economy was also proving to be a significant source of employment, supplying jobs to more than 30,000 people as of 2021.

Tourism is another major sector of Edinburgh's economy. According to a 2023 report by the United Kingdom's Office for National Statistics, 3.32 million people visited Edinburgh in 2022. Seven of the top ten most visited sites in Scotland were in Edinburgh.

Although Edinburgh's economy is not based on manufacturing, the port of Edinburgh imports many industrial commodities, including petroleum, minerals, cement, and wood pulp as well as agricultural products such as fertilizer, grain, fruit, and vegetables. Important manufactured products include electronics, paper, rubber, and glass.

Landmarks

Edinburgh was established in the eleventh century as the site of a royal castle, which still stands; this section is known as Old Town. The historic Royal Mile is a short street leading from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, the British monarch's official residence in Scotland. The neighboring New Town district, which dates from the eighteenth century, is known for its Georgian-style architecture. Together, Old Town and New Town make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Edinburgh is over nine hundred years old and has many historic buildings and other landmarks. Some of the most significant public buildings include Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyrood, and the Scottish Parliament building. The city is known for its world-class museums, including the National Gallery of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Museum, the Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, and the National War Museum of Scotland.

The Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh (RBGE) was established in the seventeenth century on the grounds of Holyrood Palace, as a medicinal garden. The garden now includes sites in three other locations in Scotland. The Royal Botanic Garden is also a scientific institution that conducts research on plants. Edinburgh Zoo, operated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, is the country's largest zoological garden.

One of the most notable and historic churches in the city is the Church of St. Giles, known also as St. Giles Cathedral. Nicknamed the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it serves as headquarters for the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland. The nearby John Knox House, built in the fifteenth century, was the last residence of the famous Protestant reformer John Knox (died 1572), who often preached at St. Giles. The twelfth-century St. Margaret's Chapel, built on the grounds of Edinburgh Castle, was named in honor of Saint Margaret of Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh, founded by royal charter in 1583, has many historic buildings. The Old College building dates from the late eighteenth century, although the dome was added in the nineteenth century.

The National Archives of Scotland (formerly the Scottish Record Office) is the country's main repository of public records, and is housed in several buildings.

History

Although the site of modern Edinburgh has archeological evidence of habitation from the Bronze Age onward, the city's history essentially dates from the eleventh century, when King Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore) of Scotland (ruled 1057–93) built a castle on Castle Rock. Edinburgh Castle remains one of the city's main landmarks. Saint Margaret's Chapel, built by Malcolm's son David I in honor of David's mother, Saint Margaret of Scotland, is the oldest building in Edinburgh. David I also reportedly established Holyroodhouse in the early twelfth century as an Augustinian monastery.

Edinburgh Castle became the nucleus of a growing community, eventually known as Old Town. This district was chartered as a town in 1329 by King Robert I of Scotland (Robert the Bruce). Edinburgh became the capital of Scotland in 1437, but it was not until King James IV (ruled 1488–1513) that the city became the monarch's main residence, with Holyroodhouse transformed from a monastery to a palace. Under James IV and his son, James V (ruled 1513–42), Edinburgh became increasingly known as a center of culture and learning. The Protestant Reformation brought a new emphasis on education for the common people, so that they could read the scriptures. A leading figure in this effort was the reformer John Knox, who became one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. In 1582, King James VI of Scotland chartered the University of Edinburgh, but funding was provided by the city government.

In 1603, King James VI became King James I of England, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I. Scotland remained a separate kingdom, with its parliament remaining in Edinburgh. Edinburgh's status suffered because the monarch spent much of his time in London. The 1707 Act of Union with England created a single United Kingdom of Great Britain out of the former Kingdoms of England and Scotland. The Scottish Parliament was dissolved, although Edinburgh remained the seat of Scotland's judicial branch.

Even as the city's political influence waned, Edinburgh's cultural importance continued to grow. In the eighteenth century, the city became the center of the humanistic Scottish Enlightenment, part of the wider European Enlightenment. Among the thinkers active in Edinburgh were the architect Robert Adam (1728–92), the philosopher David Hume (1711–76), the economist Adam Smith (1723–90), the biographer James Boswell (1740–95), and the novelist Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832).

Edinburgh regained some of its former political prominence in the late twentieth century, when the Scottish Parliament was reestablished in 1999. This legislature, which has one chamber, has the right to pass internal laws for Scotland, while the UK Parliament retains control over matters such as foreign relations. The Scottish Parliament Building is located near Holyroodhouse, while the Scottish executive offices are located on Calton Hill. The first minister of Scotland, head of the Scottish executive branch, resides at Bute House on Charlotte Square.

The city has also played important roles in the country's ongoing debate over whether to seek independence from the United Kingdom. The Edinburgh Agreement, which laid out the terms by which Scotland's independence referendum would ultimately be held in 2014, was signed between the Scottish and UK governments in the city in 2012. After the results of the referendum kept the country within the United Kingdom, those still fighting for independence and a second referendum continued to protest throughout the country, with one of the largest rallies to date, involving tens of thousands of people, taking place in Edinburgh in October 2018. Calls for Scottish independence contuned into the 2020s.

Bibliography

Bartie, Angela. The Edinburgh Festivals: Culture and Society in Post-War Britain. Edinburgh UP, 2013.

Brooks, Libby, and Mattha Busby. "Scottish Independence Supporters Rally in Edinburgh." The Guardian, 6 Oct. 2018, www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/06/scottish-independence-supporters-rally-in-edinburgh-second-referendum. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

Crawford, Robert. On Glasgow and Edinburgh. Harvard UP, 2013.

Devine, T. M., and Jenny Wormald, editors. The Oxford Handbook of Modern Scottish History. Oxford UP, 2012.

"City of Edinburgh: Council Area Profile." National Records of Scotland, www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/council-area-data-sheets/city-of-edinburgh-council-profile.html. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

"Edinburgh by Numbers 2022." The City of Edinburgh Council, March 2023, www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/13828/edinburgh-by-numbers. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

"United Kingdom." World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 20 Feb. 2024, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.