Brief History

The first group of people to leave lasting traces in Bulgaria were the Thracians. They were a tribal society and were skilled horsemen, farmers, and artisans. Thracians generally lived in fortified villages on hilltops, avoiding urban life. Eventually, they were conquered by Macedonian king Alexander the Great, and later the Roman Empire. At about 1000 AD, Bulgaria became a part of the Byzantine Empire. By 1396, the Ottoman Empire had conquered Bulgaria, and it remained under Ottoman rule for the next five centuries. Following Ottoman rule, Bulgaria was independent for a time, until becoming a Soviet State after World War II. Bulgaria remained a communist state until the late 1980s. In 2004, Bulgaria joined NATO, and in 2009 joined the European Union.

National Flag

The Bulgarian flag is a tricolour with white, green, and red. The white stands for peace, love, and freedom, the green symbolizes the agricultural wealth of the country, and the red is for the independence struggle and military courage.

Geography

Bulgaria is part of the Balkan Peninsula and is situated in South-East Europe. Its borders are Romania to the north, The Black Sea to the east, Turkey and Greece to the south, North Macedonia to the southwest, and Serbia to the West. Bulgaria has a diverse landscape, with plains, plateaus, mountains, basins, gorges, and deep river valleys.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 105th

 

Highest Mountain: Rila, Highest point Musala, 2,925.4 m. (9,598 ft.)

 

Longest River: Danube, 2,857 km. (1,771 m.)

Main Languages

Bulgarian.

Bulgaria Population: 7 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: Sofia
Capital City Population: 1.2 million (as of 2019)

Climate

The climate of Brazil varies from region to region. It is hot and dry in thein the arid interior, and more humid and sticky in the tropical rain-forests. The temperatures in Brazil rarely go below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Southern Brazil experiences four seasons, but most of Brazil only has two: a dry season and a wet season.

Key People

• Nina_Dobrev
• Aurelian
• Hristo_Stoichkov
• Julia_Kristeva

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  Cuisine

  Bulgarian Cuisine has Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Balkan influences. Due to the diverse landscape of Bulgaria, many different varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs are common. Main courses are often stews or soups, and salads are usually served as appetizers. Grilling meat, especially sausages, is very popular in Bulgaria. Various types of yogurt and pastries are also common in Bulgarian cuisine.

  The picture is a picture of Tarator, a popular Bulgarian soup.

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  Sports

  Like many other countries, the most popular sport in Bulgaria is football (soccer). Skiing is also a popular sport in Bulgaria, due to the beautiful mountainous areas that provide the right skiing conditions. Traditionally, sports like wrestling and rhythmic gymnastics were common in Bulgaria, but other sports became more established over the years. In the Olympics, Bulgaria has been most successful in Wrestling, and athletes have won a total of 68 medals in the category.

  The picture is a picture of the Bulgarian men’s volleyball team.

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  Culture

  The culture of Bulgaria is very diverse, especially since it was ruled by so many different groups throughout history. Bulgarian culture is a blend of Thracian, Slavic, and Bulgar traditions. Ancient customs, including Thracian fire dancing, are still practiced in Bulgaria. Music has been prevalent in Bulgarian culture since the middle ages, and Bulgarian folk music has its own unique style to this day. The arts are important in Bulgaria, especially visual and performing arts. Although Orthodoxy is considered the traditional religion in Bulgaria, it is officially a secular nation with freedom of religion.

   

  The picture is a picture of a Sofia Synagogue.

   

  Bulgaria is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Bulgaria here: Bulgaria (answers are on this page)

  Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Bulgaria. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

  For further reading and more info on the Bulgaria visit https://www.coolkidfacts.com/bulgaria/