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'''Scotland''' is the second-largest and northern-most of the four countries in the [[United Kingdom]].

'''Scotland''' is the second-largest and northern-most of the four countries in the [[United Kingdom]].

It is about three-eighths the size of its southern neighbour England, but is much less populous; most of the population lives in the ''central belt'', a band across central Scotland between the capital [[Edinburgh]] and the city of [[Glasgow]]. Other cities are [[Aberdeen]] and [[Dundee]]. [[Inverness]] and [[Stirling]] were granted city status recently but are in fact smaller than some of the larger Scottish towns like Paisley and Perth.

It is about three-eighths the size of its southern neighbour England, but is much less populous; most of the population lives in the ''central belt'', a band across central Scotland between the capital [[Edinburgh]] and the largest city, [[Glasgow]]. Other cities are [[Aberdeen]] and [[Dundee]]. [[Inverness]] and [[Stirling]] were granted city status recently but are in fact smaller than some of the larger Scottish towns like Paisley and Perth.

The symbol of Scotland is the [[thistle]]. The Scottish flag is the Cross of St. Andrew, a white diagonal cross on a dark blue background. The design originated in the 9th century and it is the oldest national flag still in use anywhere in the world.  

The symbol of Scotland is the [[thistle]]. The Scottish flag is the Cross of St. Andrew, a white diagonal cross on a dark blue background. The design originated in the 9th century.  

Scotland's motto is ''Nemo Me Impune Lacessit'' ("No one provokes me with impunity")<ref>http://www.scotland-guide.co.uk/ALL_AREAS_IN_SCOTLAND/Glasgow/Areas/Centre/Mercat_Cross.htm  </ref>  

Scotland's motto is ''Nemo Me Impune Lacessit'' ("No one provokes me with impunity")<ref>http://www.scotland-guide.co.uk/ALL_AREAS_IN_SCOTLAND/Glasgow/Areas/Centre/Mercat_Cross.htm  </ref>  

====Religion====

====Religion====

Scotland is historically [[Christian]]; the national church is the [[Church of Scotland]]. Scotland was a [[catholic]] nation until the time of the [[Reformation]], When many scottish scholars (see next sentence) returned from their travels in Germany, having studied the works of [[Martin Luther]]. This caused a religious change in Scotland where many of the lords became [[Protestant]] and ousted the queen of scotland at the time and  replaced her with her infant son, James I. Notable figures from that time include [[John Knox]] and [[George Wishart]] both of whom were pioneers of the change. However, from the mid 19th century until the interwar period, there were large scale immigrations of Irish Catholics to Scotland's industrial urban centres and this had a profound effect on the religious demography of Scotland. Today there are a similar number of communicants of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland although both religions have suffered considerable declines in church going attendances. The [[Episcopal]]ian Church is predominant in the north-east. There are also significant populations of [[Muslim]]s, [[Hindu]]s ,[[Jew]]s and [[Sikh]]s in Scotland's major cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and others.).

Scotland is historically [[Christian]]; the national church is the [[Church of Scotland]]. Scotland was a [[catholic]] nation until the time of the [[Reformation]], When many scottish scholars (see next sentence) returned from their travels in Germany, having studied the works of [[Martin Luther]]. This caused a religious change in Scotland where many of the lords became [[Protestant]] and ousted the Queen of Scotland, Mary Stuart ('Mary, Queen of Scots') at the time and  replaced her with her infant son, [[James VI]] (later to become [[James I]] of [[England]]). Notable figures from that time include [[John Knox]] and [[George Wishart]] both of whom were pioneers of the change. However, from the mid 19th century until the interwar period, there were large scale immigrations of Irish Catholics to Scotland's industrial urban centres and this had a profound effect on the religious demography of Scotland. Today there are a similar number of communicants of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland although both religions have suffered considerable declines in church going attendances. The [[Episcopal]]ian Church is predominant in the north-east. There are also significant populations of [[Muslim]]s, [[Hindu]]s ,[[Jew]]s and [[Sikh]]s in Scotland's major cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and others.).

====Culture and sports====

====Culture and sports====

====Monarchs of Scotland====

====Monarchs of Scotland====

*[[Malcolm II          (1005-1034)]]

*[[Malcolm II          (1005-1034)]]

*[[Duncan I            (1034-1040)]]

*[[Duncan I]]           (1034-1040)]]

*[[Macbeth            (1040-1057)]]

*[[Macbeth            (1040-1057)]]

*[[Malcolm III        (1057-1093)]]

*[[Malcolm III        (1057-1093)]]