Introduction
The name Edinburgh comes from a Gaelic name meaning “Eidyn's hill fort.” The capital city of Scotland has also been nicknamed “Auld Reekie.” This is because of the smoke (reek) that comes from its thousands of chimneys. Through the years Edinburgh has been known for its military might and for producing great thinkers and writers.
Edinburgh is located in southeastern Scotland. It is built on a series of ridges separated by ravines. Its buildings blend with its unusual setting. Edinburgh lies on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. A firth is an arm of the sea at the lower end of a river. The city sits on about 7 miles (11 kilometers) of sloping land.
Cityscape
Modern Edinburgh is built around a small, historic part of the city. The Old Town that was the original burgh, or village, was built in the Middle Ages and covers 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). The town was built on the ridge stretching east from Castle Rock to the Netherbow Port, a gate in the city wall. Castle Rock rises 250 feet (76 meters) above the valley floor. On top of Castle Rock stands Edinburgh Castle, the ancient home of Scottish kings and queens. It is now a museum of old armor and weapons. It has been a fortress from at least the 6th century.
To the north is Edinburgh's New Town, which was planned and built between 1767 and 1833. There are fine, old buildings in Charlotte Square at the western end of George Street. Suburbs stretch southward into the beautiful Pentland Hills and northward to the shores of the Firth of Forth. Leith, Edinburgh's main port, was added to the city in 1920.
Between the Edinburgh Castle and New Town is Princes Street. The city's main street, it is lined with hotels, banks, and shops. To the south are the Princes Street Gardens. In East Princes Street Gardens stands a monument to Sir Walter Scott, the great novelist from Edinburgh.
Places of interest
The main place of interest in Old Town is Edinburgh Castle. Another is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where the rooms of Mary, Queen of Scots, can be seen. The palace takes its name from the 12th-century abbey, or monastery, beside which it was built in the 16th century. South and east of the palace spreads the treeless Holyrood Park. From the park rises Arthur's Seat, a rock that is more than 5 miles (8 kilometers) around.
One of the most popular sites in the city is the Edinburgh Zoo. Other favorite destinations include the Royal Commonwealth Pool, one of the best swimming pools in the United Kingdom, and the Royal Botanic Garden. The long coastline is ideal for boating.
Culture
The city is known for its annual summer festival of arts. A major cultural institution is the National Gallery of Scotland. It includes the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. The National Library of Scotland, the Museum of Scotland, and the Royal Museum also are in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh has many places of learning. The University of Edinburgh, known for its schools of medicine and law, was founded in 1583. There are also the Heriot-Watt University, the Edinburgh College of Art, and Napier University. The National Gallery and the Royal Scottish Academy are famous art centers. The city was the birthplace of the Encyclopædia Britannica.
Economy
Law, medicine, finance, education, and tourism are important to the economy. Other sources of income and employment in the city are the making of food, beverages, and tobacco; engineering, including ship repair; the making of electronics; paper manufacturing; and printing and publishing.
History
The first settlers in the area around Edinburgh may have arrived as early as 7000 BC. It is thought that people have lived on the site of Castle Rock for at least 1,400 years. The Romans inhabited the Edinburgh plain between the Pentland Hills and the Firth of Forth during the second half of the 2nd century AD.
From the mid-11th to the mid-12th century St. Margaret's chapel on Castle Rock and Holyrood Abbey marked the limits of the Old Town. In 1130 the Scottish king David I granted Edinburgh the status of a burgh. This helped trade by allowing Edinburgh to act both as a market and as a manufacturing center, especially for cloth. By the rule of James III (1460–88) Edinburgh was described as “the principal burgh of our kingdom” and its capital. In 1544, however, the English destroyed the entire town. A period of rebuilding followed.
During the 17th century Scotland's economy became weaker as compared to that of England. By the early 18th century the only hope for economic growth for Edinburgh seemed to be trading with the British colonies. To do this, however, Scotland had to become part of England. In 1707 the Act of Union was signed and Edinburgh lost all independent political power. In the first half of the 18th century Edinburgh doubled its population and increased its wealth.
From 1830 to the start of World War I in 1914, many businesses sprang up in Edinburgh. The period after World War II (1939–45) saw growth in education, manufacturing, and cultural life in the city. In 1999 a new Scottish Parliament and government was established in Edinburgh. Population (1999 estimate), 450,180.
