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Difference between revisions of "Isle of Man"
→History of Isle pf Man
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Rest assured, wherever you choose to visit you’ll be guaranteed a warm Manx welcome. | Rest assured, wherever you choose to visit you’ll be guaranteed a warm Manx welcome. | ||
==History of Isle | ==History of Isle of Man== | ||
The original inhabitants of the Isle of Man were the Neolithic and Mesolithic tribes, followed by Bronze Age dwellers and the Celts (whose civilization is the basis of Manx culture). Christianity was introduced during the fifth and sixth centuries. | |||
The Scandinavian Vikings arrived more than 1000 years ago and Norse rule prevailed in the establishment of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles from 979 to 1266 AD. The Vikings founded the Tynwald Parliament, (the oldest continuous parliament in the world), which has been in existence for 1,000 years. Annual outdoor sittings of the parliament, however, date back to the 8th century. | |||
After a brief period of Scottish rule, the Kingdom of Man passed to the English Crown, eventually being given to Sir John Stanley in 1403. Stanley’s descendants were Lords of Mann for 362 years before the Lordship reverted to the crown by purchase. The island has a colourful history, with tales of smuggling and as a haven for debtors. In recent years, the Isle of Man has become famous for its distinct tax status. | |||
Formerly reliant on mining, fishing, farming and tourism; the island has capitalised on its independent status to build up a thriving offshore banking and financial services sector. Another major success came from its use by the film industry, as the centre for many productions. | |||
The Isle of Man is not part of the UK, but is a crown dependency, with the Queen holding the title the Lord of Mann. Its law is not English law, but is based on the same system, and the island's parliament will often consider recent English laws for introduction. Lawyers on the island are called advocates and combine the role of barrister and solicitor. | |||
==Disclaimer== | ==Disclaimer== | ||
{{disclaimer countries}} | {{disclaimer countries}} | ||
[[category:countries]] | [[category:countries]] | ||