Introduction
The official name is the Republic of Bulgaria. The Republic of Bulgaria shares borders with five countries in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Turkicje to the southeast, Greece to the south, North Macedonia to the southwest, and parts of Serbia and Montenegro to the west. To the east of Bulgaria is the Black Sea. It is the only country in the Balkan Peninsula that has become peacefully democratic. It joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004 and the European Union (EU) in 2007. The administrative region consists of 28 oblasts.
General geography of Bulgaria
The total area of the country is 110,910㎢, which is one-half the size of the Korean Peninsula and slightly larger than South Korea. The capital, Sofia, is located at the foot of the Balkan and Vitosha Mountains in western Bulgaria. Other major cities include Plovdiv (Пловдив) in south-central Bulgaria, the coastal cities of Varna (Варна) and Burgas (Бургас) in the east, and the Danube River in the north. There is a Ruse (Русе) in the sea area.
The Danube River, a river in Bulgaria, begins and flows from the Schwarzwald Mountains in central Europe. It is the second longest river in Europe and the only river that flows from Western to Eastern Europe. The total water area of the Danube River is 817,000 km, and from its starting point, it flows to its most estuary, the border coast of Bulgaria and Romania, where it merges with the Black Sea. The Danube is a natural treasure trove for Bulgaria and a navigable river that facilitates connections with neighboring countries. Bulgarian cities located on the riverbank from west to east include Vidin, Lom, Kozruduy, Ruse, and Silistra.
70% of Bulgaria’s territory is made up of mountain ranges and is characterized by mountains located very close to residential areas. Representative mountain ranges in Bulgaria include the Balkan Mountains and the Rhodope Mountains. The Balkan Mountains, the largest and longest mountains in Bulgaria, are called Stara Planina (Стара Планина) in Bulgarian, meaning “old mountains”. The Balkan Mountains extend from the Kom Mountains near Bulgaria’s border with Serbia to the Black Sea and run across the north and south of Bulgaria. National Park ‘Zertralen Balkan’ is located in the Balkan Mountains, with the 124.5m-tall Raiskoto Prasktalo (Paradise) near Botev (Вотев, 2376m), the highest mountain. showers) waterfalls exist do. Sredna Gora (Следна гора) is a parallel mountain to the south of the Balkans. Although it is neither as tall nor as large as the Balkan Mountains, it is the second longest mountain in Bulgaria. Sredna Gora is famous for its hunting grounds and wine production areas.
The Rhodope Mountains occupy a large part of southern Bulgaria. Although the mountains are not very high, the number of roads is limited, and travelers who enjoy hiking often visit due to the steep hills and deep forests. People living in the Rhodopi Mountains keep Bulgarian traditions and rituals, so you can get a glimpse of Bulgaria’s long-standing culture. It is not easy to communicate in standard Bulgarian with people living in villages located deep in the mountains due to the strong dialect. Pamporovo (Пампорово), near the village of Smoljan (Смолян) on the Rhodope slopes, is one of the most popular winter resorts in southeastern Europe and is home to many ski resorts.
Citizen
Population
Bulgaria’s total population decreased by 510,000 compared to 1992 due to a low birth rate and overseas migration. 69% of the population is concentrated in cities, with about 18% living in the capital, Sofia. Large cities other than Sofia are Plovdiv, Ruse, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Sliven, There are Dobrich (Добрич), Shumen (Шумен), etc. Due to the phenomenon of rural migration, the number of ghost villages in rural areas where no residents live is increasing.
Bulgaria’s population peaked at 8,948,649 in 1985 and has been steadily decreasing for 20 years. Over the past 10 years, natural population growth and migration to other countries have resulted in population decline. The population decline in the 0-24 age group is the largest, and in particular, after becoming a member of the European Union in 2007, free movement within the European Union became possible from 2014, leading to more migration.
Bulgaria’s aging is more evident among women than men, with the proportion of women over 65 being 21.4% and men being 15.5%. This difference is due to the higher mortality rate among men. In addition, the average age also increased, reaching 40.4 years in 2001, 41.7 years in late 2008, and 43.8 years in 2018.
The main ethnic groups in Bulgaria’s population are Bulgarians, Turkic peoples, and Roma (Gypsies), with ethnic Bulgarians accounting for 84.8% of the population. In addition, Turkic people 8.8%, Romans 4.9%. There are also 1.4% ethnic minorities, including Armenians, Russians, Roma, Ukrainians, Greeks, Karakachans, and Jews.
language and religion
85.2% of Bulgaria’s population speaks Bulgarian as their native language. Bulgarian belongs to the Slavic language family and is a South Slavic language, which is the country’s official language and language of instruction. Additionally, Bulgarian is one of the 23 official languages of the European Union (EU). Besides Bulgarian, other spoken languages used in Bulgaria include Turkic language and Russian.
The Cyrillic alphabet is used, and Cyril and Methodius, who invented this alphabet, are the ancestors of the Bulgarians. The Cyrillic alphabet is a writing system used in various languages throughout Eurasia, and is still used as the national script in Russia, several countries using Slavic, Turkic, Mongul, and Iranian languages in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and North Asia. The use of the Cyrillic alphabet in Bulgaria was formalized on May 24, 893. In Bulgaria, this day was designated as ‘Bulgarian Day of Enlightenment, Culture and Slavic Letters’ to commemorate the two brothers.
Bulgarians are very proud of their writing and language. Bulgarians have a sense of being chosen because their ancestors laid the foundation for Slavic culture and writing, and their language is still used as the main language of the Slavic people to this day. The oldest known text in the Slavic language is the Bible translated by the brothers Cyril and Methody in the 9th century. The language recorded in this Bible is called Ancient (Church) Slavic, and it retains many features that are very close to the Proto-Slavic language of the single Slavic language era. To date, about 10 types of Slavic languages are spoken across a vast area from central-eastern Europe to Siberia, including South Slavic languages (Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian), East Slavic languages (Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian), It is classified into three West Slavic languages (Czech, Slovak, Polish, Sorb, Kashub). It is also known as a relative language with the largest number of native speakers in the world.
The religious faith followed by more than 80% of the population in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Since 1991, when the socialist system collapsed, it has been specified as the state religion of Bulgaria in Article 13 of the Constitution. Next is Islam, which accounts for about 10% of the population. The proportion of Muslims was highest in the early 10th century, and later, as the total population of the country increased, the proportion began to decline and reached its lowest level in 2011.
History
From its origins until the reign of the Ottoman Empire
The territory of present-day Bulgaria has been inhabited by humans since the Stone Age, and numerous dwellings and burial sites remain as evidence. Among them are Mount Karanovska (Карановска), which dates back to around the 6th millennium BC, and a Neolithic mansion. The world’s oldest gold treasure, discovered near the city of Varna, dates back to the same period.
The Thracians who settled in Bulgaria during the Bronze Age left behind a rich cultural heritage: tombs, temples, and treasures. When Bulgarian territory became part of the Roman Empire in the second half of the 1st century AD, large-scale construction began and new cities emerged in place of old Thracian settlements. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the land of present-day Bulgaria became part of the Byzantine Empire. In the late 7th century, the territory of present-day northeastern Bulgaria was inhabited by proto-Bulgarians, who settled there and united with the Slavs to establish the state of Bulgaria. The First Bulgarian Kingdom, founded around 680 under the leadership of Asparuch, was recognized as a state by Byzantium in 681. Pliska (Плиска) was declared the capital of the newly established Bulgaria. Even today, the magnificent legacies of the Pliska era remain. One of the most representative heritage items, the Madara Horseman statue, was created between the founding of Bulgaria and the adoption of Christianity in the mid-9th century.
In 864, during the reign of Boris I (852-889 AD), Bulgaria adopted Christianity as its official state religion. From this point on, the construction of a unified Bulgarian state began, without distinguishing between the ethnic differences between Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs. Around the end of the 8th century, the Slavic brothers Cyril and Methodius created and popularized the Slavic alphabet (aka Cyrillic alphabet). By this time, Ohrid, Pliska, and later the capital, Veliki Preslav (Велики Преслав), had established themselves as centers of Bulgarian culture. The reign of Simeon I is known as the golden age of Bulgarian culture, and around this time, Bulgaria’s borders reached the Black Sea, White Sea, and Aegean Sea. Simeon moved his capital from Pliska to Preslav, which was considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe at the time. The remains of palaces, churches, and municipal buildings built at this time are preserved to this day. In 1018, after a long war with Byzantium, Bulgaria was conquered by Byzantium, and in 1186, Byzantine rule was overthrown by a peasant uprising led by the brothers Asen and Peter. They established the Second Kingdom of Bulgaria, and Veliko Tarnovo was designated as the capital.
Bulgaria’s initial power was restored during the reign of Asen and Peter’s younger brother, Tsar Kaloyan (reigned 1197-1207), and during the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen, the Kingdom of Bulgaria reached its peak, becoming the most prosperous state in Eastern Europe. The border was also extended to the Black Sea. However, the Kingdom of Bulgaria began to decline rapidly following the Mongol invasion in 1242, and divisions continued to occur within the country. Eventually, the rule of the Ottoman Empire began in 1396, and Bulgaria was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for 482 years.
Domination and independence of the Ottoman Empire
In 1396, Bulgaria was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, and despite their rule lasting about five centuries, the Bulgarian identity was preserved. The only spiritual center that preserved Bulgarian culture and spirit during the period of rule was the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (Българска православна църква). The Ottoman Empire requested that Islam be designated as the state religion and persecuted the Orthodox Church, but many Orthodox churches, including underground churches, were established under Ottoman rule.
The movement for Bulgarian independence began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when Bulgarians waged an organized war against the Ottoman Empire. During this period, Bulgarian merchants established trade links with Europe, which brought about many changes in lifestyle, culture, education, and architecture. An uprising broke out in April 1876. It was the largest and most organized attempt to liberate from Ottoman rule. The first uprising took place in the village of Koprivshtizza (Копривщица). This uprising failed and was brutally suppressed by the Ottoman Empire, but it became an opportunity for the problems between Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire to become known abroad and become the center of international politics.
In 1878, Russia went to war with the Ottoman Empire to make Bulgaria independent. The war ended with a Russian victory and the Ottoman Empire’s troops withdrew from Bulgaria. In 1878, the Congress of Berlin divided the Bulgarian territory into the Principality of Bulgaria, where the Kingdom of Bulgaria remained, Eastern Rumelia (Лу Мелия), where a Christian governor appointed by the sultan was located, and Macedonia, which remained under Ottoman rule. Bulgaria’s first constitution was adopted in Veliko Tarnovo in 1879. It was one of the most democratic constitutions of its time. This constitution is currently on display at the Museum of National Revival and Constituent Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo. In 1885, the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia were unified, and to commemorate this, Bulgaria designated September 6 every year as Bulgarian Unification Day.
World War and Bulgaria
In 1908, Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (Фердинанд I, Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg Gotha) declared independence from the Ottoman Empire and named himself King of the Third Kingdom of Bulgaria. In 1912, Bulgaria led the Balkan War against Turkiye and achieved victory, but in 1913, due to disagreements, its allies Serbia and Greece launched the Balkan War against Bulgaria, and Bulgaria lost, and as a result of this war, Bulgarian territory was separated. The territory became smaller after World War I. In 1918, Ferdinand I had to hand over the throne to Boris III and return home to Germany.
During World War II, it was on the side of the Axis powers due to Nazi coercion. Assisted in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece. As a result, the southern region of Dobruja (Добруджа), which was lost during the Balkan War, was able to be returned from Romania. However, Bulgaria did not participate in the Nazis’ Holocaust policy and took its own path, refusing to participate in the German-German War. The Soviet army declared war on Bulgaria and invaded it. When Boris III died shortly after the meeting between Hitler and Boris III in 1943, Simeon II (Симеон II), who was 6 years old at the time, ascended to the throne. Four days later, Bulgaria surrendered and the Bulgarian Fatherland Front (Отечествен фронт, Otechestven Front) took power. Bulgaria signed a treaty to strengthen relations with the Soviet Union and was reduced to a satellite state of the Soviet Union.
Abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a communist regime
On September 5, 1944, Soviet troops entered Bulgaria, and on September 9, 1946, a communist vote was held to abolish the monarchy. As a result, the monarchy was abolished and Simeon II went into exile abroad with his mother. Afterwards, the Fatherland Front government was established, and following land reform in March 1946 and the abolition of the monarchy on September 8, the Bulgarian People’s Republic was proclaimed on September 15. After the Communist-style constitution was adopted in December 1947, the national system centered on the Communist Party continued, but after nationwide protests demanding democratization in November 1989, the one-party dictatorship was abandoned. In November 1990, the country’s name was changed from the People’s Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Bulgaria. The one-party system was maintained, banks were nationalized, and farmland was forced to organize into cooperatives. The Bulgarian Communist Party maintained a one-party dictatorship in Bulgaria for about 45 years from 1945 and purged many democratic figures.
Democratic history
In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and the wind of democratization began to blow in Bulgaria. In the aftermath of the democracy movement of Bulgarian citizens, the Bulgarian Communist Party system collapsed in 1989, and the Communist Party was forcibly dissolved in April 1990. In October 1990, as the approval rating for the Alliance of Democratic Forces exceeded that of the Socialist Party and social and political instability intensified, Prime Minister Lukanov resigned, and in December, the first post-war coalition cabinet headed by Prime Minister Popov was formed. was launched. In 1990, a new constitution was adopted through multi-party elections in July 1991, and the Alliance for Democratic Forces won the general election in October 1991, establishing a democratic government with Dimitrov (Димитров) as Prime Minister. In the 1992 presidential election, Zhelyu Zhelev (Желю Желев) was elected in a second round runoff. Afterwards, the Dimitrov (Димитров) cabinet, which pursued political and economic democratization, suffered a vote of no confidence in the parliament, and Berov (Беров), nominated by the Rights and Freedom Party, was elected prime minister in December 1992. In 1994, the President dissolved the National Assembly and a transitional cabinet was formed, but as a result of early general elections held in December of that year, the Socialist Party won the majority of seats and the former communist forces returned to power.
The government of Videnov (Биденов) of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, launched in January 1995, was defeated in the presidential election held in 1996, and Peter Stoyanov (Петър Стоянов) of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) became the new president. was elected. Ivan Kostov (Иван Костов) from the same party took office as Prime Minister in 1997. The ‘Simeon II National Movement Union (Национална асоциация за движение, Симеон II“) and the ‘Freedom and Rights Movement Alliance (ДПС, Движение прав)” won a landslide victory in the June 2001 general election. а и свободи)’ established a coalition cabinet and 7 In January, former King Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha took office as Prime Minister. In the presidential election in November of the same year, a candidate from the Socialist Party (БСП, Българска социалистическа партия), the successor to the Communist Party, was elected, making changes in government more frequent. As a result of the June 2005 general elections, the Socialist Party emerged as the largest party, and a coalition government led by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev (Сергей Станишев) was launched.
In 2004, Bulgaria joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and became a formal member of the European Union in January 2007.
Conclusion
It is a country in the southeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe, bordering Turkey. Because it is located on the route through which Turkiye entered Eastern Europe, it was colonized by the Ottoman Empire for 500 years, starting in 1396. As a result of the Russo-Turkish War in 1878, it became an autonomous principality and became independent as the Kingdom of Bulgaria in 1908. The Communist Party came to power in 1945, abolished the monarchy in 1946, and became the Bulgarian People’s Republic. After the communist regime collapsed under the influence of democratization in Eastern Europe in 1989, a new constitution was adopted in 1991, and it became the Republic of Bulgaria.