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According to localcollegeexplorer, Bulgaria is a country located in the southeastern part of Europe and is bordered by Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey. It has been inhabited since ancient times and was once part of the Roman Empire. Bulgaria was later conquered by the Ottomans in the 14th century and remained under their rule for nearly 500 years until it declared independence in 1878. The history of Bulgaria can be traced back to the 6th century BC when it was inhabited by Thracian tribes who were later conquered by Philip II of Macedon in 342 BC. This marked the beginning of Bulgarian statehood as an independent kingdom that lasted until 1396 when it fell under Ottoman rule. During this time, Bulgaria experienced a period of decline as its economy suffered from heavy taxation and its population experienced religious persecution from the Ottoman authorities. In 1878, following a series of uprisings against Ottoman rule, Bulgaria declared independence and formed a constitutional monarchy headed by Alexander Battenberg as prince. The new state was recognized internationally in 1908 when it joined the First Balkan War against Turkey which resulted in significant territorial gains for Bulgaria including much of Thrace, Macedonia and Eastern Rumelia (now part of Romania). In 1912-13 Bulgaria participated in another war against its former allies Serbia, Greece and Montenegro which resulted in further territorial losses for Bulgaria including much of Macedonia which became part of Serbia after World War I. Following WWI, Bulgaria became a republic with Tsar Boris III as its head before eventually becoming a People’s Republic after World War II with Communist leader Todor Zhivkov at its head until 1989 when democratic reforms began to take place within the country leading to greater political and economic freedoms for Bulgarians today. Despite some economic hardship during both world wars as well as during communist rule, Bulgaria has since become an EU member state with strong ties to both Europe and Russia due to its strategic location on one hand between them both. Today it is considered one if southeast Europe’s most prosperous countries thanks largely to foreign investment from abroad coupled with an educated workforce that has helped drive growth within many industries such as technology, manufacturing and tourism over recent years making it an attractive destination for people from all over the world looking to explore what this diverse region has to offer them. In 2010, Bulgaria was a nation of 7.5 million people located in southeastern Europe. It had been a member of the European Union since 2007 and was enjoying the benefits of increased economic growth and political stability. The country had a long and rich history, having been part of both the Roman and Ottoman Empires. Its culture blended elements from both Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Islam, as well as influences from neighboring countries such as Greece and Turkey. The economy of Bulgaria in 2010 was largely dependent on agriculture, with wheat, corn, potatoes, grapes, and tobacco being its main exports. Manufacturing also played an important role in the country’s economy with cars, electronics, machinery, textiles, and food products being produced for both domestic consumption and export markets. Tourism was also becoming increasingly important to the Bulgarian economy with many visitors coming to explore its ancient cities filled with historical monuments such as Sofia’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral or Rila Monastery located in the mountains near Sofia. In 2010 Bulgaria had made great strides towards becoming a modern European nation but still faced challenges such as high unemployment rates and corruption that needed to be addressed if it were to reach its full potential. Check estatelearning for Bulgaria in 1999.

Bulgaria Under Živkov
Bulgaria Under Živkov

Bulgaria Under Živkov

Živkov’s relative reformism was expressed above all in a certain tolerance towards cultural debate. He himself loved meeting intellectuals, to whom he assigned salaries that his critics call “satraphs”, giving them a social status that divided them from society. Dissident G. Markov (who was killed in London by the Bulgarian secret police) used to sarcastically say that poets and writers “were paid not to write, but not to write”. This relative tolerance, however, prevented the formation of a broad and…

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Golden Sands, Bulgaria
Golden Sands, Bulgaria

Golden Sands, Bulgaria

Bulgaria lies in south-east Europe and borders with Romania in the north, Serbia and Macedonia in the west, and Greece and Turkey in the south. In the east, the Black Sea forms the natural state border. The mountains of the Balkans criss- cross the country all the way to the beaches at the Black Sea. The capital of the republic is Sofia. Culture, art and customs have a long tradition in Bulgaria. The architecture of the capital Sofia dates back…

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Bulgaria Wildlife
Bulgaria Wildlife and Economy

Bulgaria Wildlife and Economy

Animals and Plants What is growing in Bulgaria? Just over a third (35 percent) of Bulgaria is covered with forest. This grows mainly on the mountain slopes. Deciduous trees can be found in lower elevations, while conifers such as pine, spruce and fir trees are more common. Common tree species are beech, oak and maple. Olive trees and holm oaks grow on the Black Sea with its Mediterranean climate. From around 2000 meters, the climate becomes alpine. This means that…

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Bulgaria
Bulgaria Guide

Bulgaria Guide

Bulgaria – country information Country name Bulgaria Official name Republic of Bulgaria Capital Sofia Continent Europe Area 110,912 km2 Population 7,282,041 (2012) Foundation of a state 3/3/1878 The highest mountains Musala 2925 m, Vichren 2914 m Longest rivers Dunav 2,850 km (in the country 450 km), Marica 526 km State system a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament The biggest cities Sofia (capital) 1,125,000, Plovdiv 370,000, Varna 315,000 Official language Bulgarian Ethnicity/National Composition Bulgarians 85.5%, Turks 10%, Gypsies 3.5%, others…

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