Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind.
Winston Churchill
Many of us are often quick to pronounce that 'Scots invented the modern world', and while that bold statement is perhaps a wee bit of an exaggeration, there can be no denying the immense contribution made by Scots, from practically every walk of life, to the world at large.
Let's start with the big stuff. Leaders of the Reformation, the pioneering thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment, trail-blazing captains of industry and intrepid explorers - all are individuals that Scotland can lay claim to, and their role in shaping how we think, see and experience the world today cannot be understated.
And where on earth would we be without the ingenious inventors, scientists and engineers to whom we owe steam power, penicillin and the telephone? These are just a few of the ground-breaking technological innovations pioneered in Scotland.
Scotland is equally proud of its artistic and cultural heritage too, and justifiably so. The roster of great artists, poets, writers, actors, musicians which hail from Scotland is long and one which continues to grow.
Intrigued by these fascinating characters?
