The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh was historically part of Midlothian and has been recognised as the capital since the 15th century. The first habitants of the area date back to 8500 BC, with traces of Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements having been found on Castle Rock. In 1603, King James VI worked to unite both Scotland and English, although Scotland itself remained very much an independent territory.
Edinburg’s traditional industries of the 19th and 20th centuries consisted primarily of printing, brewing and distilling as well as rubber and engineering works. In 1821, the city overtook Glasgow as Scotland’s second largest city, although the town was becoming increasingly overcrowded with high mortality rates.
Modern-day Edinburgh has seen the development of a new financial district (launched in the 1990s) including the introduction of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Edinburgh Park has been developed to a business and technology park spanning 38 acres and has been a major contributor to the city’s economic regeneration. Edinburgh is considered the United Kingdom’s second largest financial and administrative centre after London.
