Language: Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown

Capital: Sofia (1,188,000)

Population: 7,970,000 – nationality: Bulgarian;
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3%

Area: 110,910 sq km. (slightly larger than Tennessee)

Natural Features: mostly mountains with lowlands in N & SE; near Turkish Straits; 33% forested land

President: Georgi PURVANOV (since January 2002)

Type of Government: President and VP elected on same ticket by popular vote for 5-year terms; Prime minister nominated by the president; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister; Constitution adopted 1991

Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3%

Currency: Leva

Economy: Experienced economic stability and positive growth rates since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. It seeks to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment, cut the budget deficit, and contain inflation. GDP per capita: $1510

Life Expectancy: 71.5 years

Infant Mortality Rate: 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Education: Duration of compulsory education: 8 years; Duration of Primary level: 4 years; Duration of secondary level: 7 years; Enrollment ratio – secondary level: 87.6%; Literacy: 98%

Food: Tarator (cold cucumber and yogurt soup); moussaka (made not with eggplant, but with ground beef and potatoes); eggplant caviar; bean salad; bean soup; burek (pastry filled with meat or cheese and served with liquid yogurt, like in Serbia); breaded grape leaves; stuffed peppers; sauerkraut; palatchinka (crepes); baklava; yogurt

History: The Bulgars, thought to be of Indo-Iranian origin, crossed the Danube and founded the First Bulgarian Empire in 679. They conquered Macedonia int he 9th century and were eventually assimilated into the Slavic population, adopting their language and way of life. Orthdox Christianity was adopted in 865. The Second Bulgarian Empire was founded in 1185, but the Turks conquered the Bulgarians by the 14th century and controlled the area for five centuries. Resentment against the Turks brewed int he 18th century, and a popular uprising at the end of the 19th century was brutally quelled by the Turks. Following this brutality, European allies, and especially Russia, came to Bulgaria’s aid. The modern history of Bulgaria dates from this 1878 liberation.

The government sided with Germany at the outbreak of WWII, but Tsar Boris III, fearing a popular uprising, refused to declare war on Russia. The monarchy was eventually overthrown and the new government and army switched sides and fought against Germany until the end of the war. Until the fall of the communist government in 1989, the country became one of the most prosperous in Eastern Europe. The collapse of communism in 1989 left industry exposed, and the transition to democracy has been a troubled one. Rapid inflation, high unemployment, the lack of a social safety net and the visible wealth of sanctioned criminals have caused widespread disillusionment. The government is eager to qualify for membership in the EU and joined NATO in April of 2004.

Detailled History:
Bulgaria belonged to the Kingdom of Macedonia in antiquity. The Romans conquered the area by 46 BC. In 679, the Bulgars, thought to be of Indo-Iranian origin, crossed the Danube and founded the First Bulgarian Empire. They expanded south towards Byzantium before finally conquering Macedonia in the 9th century. They were eventually assimilated by the more numerous Slavs, and adopted their language and way of life.
In 865 a Byzantine monk who painted a picture of hell on the palace walls managed to frighten Tsar Boris I into accepting Orthodox Christianity. Bulgaria passed to Byzantine rule int he 870’s.
The Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) was founded after a general uprising against Byzantium. However, by the end of the 14th century, the Turks controlled all of Bulgaria, beginning five centuries of Ottoman rule. The Turks made no systematic attempts to convert the Bulgarians to Islam or to eradicate their language and customs. It was only as Turkish power weakened in the 18th century that taxes and inflation rose, amd resentment against the Turks brewed. In the early 19th century, the National Revival saw popular customs and folklore blossom, and underground revolutionaries plotted against the Turks. When a revolt broke out in 1876 the Turks suppressed it with unprecedented brutality, while spreading tales of ‘Bulgarian atrocities’ throughout Europe. About 15,000 Bulgarians were massacred and 58 villages destroyed.
European allies came to Bulgaria’s rescue in the late 1870s. When the Russian army, the chief ally, had advanced to within 30mi of Istanbul, Turkey ceded 60% of the Balkan Peninsula to Bulgaria. The modern history of Bulgaria – and the Bulgarian ’little brother’ complex in relation to Russia – dates from this 1878 liberation. Several European powers, fearful of a powerful Russian satellite in the Balkans, took away bits of Bulgaria. This left everyone unsatisfied and led to a highly-charged atmosphere which led to the two Balkan Wars which preceded WWI.
Bulgaria lost Macedonia in the 20th century and and allied with the Central Powers in WWI. The interwar years were characterised by serious problems with Macedonian refugees, communist uprisings and economic crises. Bulgaria sided with Germany at the outbreak of WWII, but Tsar Boris III, fearing a popular uprising, refused to declare war on Russia. The underground Fatherland Front consolidated opposition to the pro-German government, eventually gaining the popular support necessary to overthrow the monarchy. Communist Todor Zhivkov persuaded a none-too-reluctant army to switch sides, resulting in the Bulgarians fighting alongside Russia and against their recent allies (Germany) until the war’s end.
Under Todor Zhivkov, Bulgaria’s leader from 1954 to 1989, the country became one of the most prosperous in Eastern Europe. The collapse of communism in 1989 left industry exposed, and the transition to democracy has been a troubled one. The renamed communist party (now the Bulgarian Socialist Party) managed to control the direction of the newly democratic Bulgaria, restricting the influence of the president.
In 2001, the Bulgarian monarchy made a comeback when former king Simeon II was elected prime minister. In the same election, the country’s Turkish minority was represented in the government for the first time, and the president has encouraged Bulgarians to be more tolerant of Turkish-Bulgarians. Rapid inflation, high unemployment, the lack of a social safety net and the visible wealth of sanctioned criminals have caused widespread disillusionment. The government joined NATO in April of 2004 and is eager to qualify for membership in the EU.