For your home in Bulgaria, and beyond
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The earliest mention of the area comes in Homer's "Iliad", where the king of Thrace is recorded as taking wine to the siege of Troy. Sozopol and Nessebar on the Bulgarian coast are Greek settlements from around this time and fishermen still regularly trawl up Greek wine jars (amphorae) in their nets.
In the seventh century a band of nomadic horsemen, the Bulgars, arrived from central Asia and in 681 established their new kingdom. Christianity came early to Bulgaria, bringing with it Byzantine style churches and a tradition of ikon painting which has lasted for 1600 years. Many churches retain both their ikons and wall frescoes. Bulgaria itself expanded and contracted over the next six centuries depending on the competence of its Tsar and the relative strength or weakness of neighbouring Byzantium.
From the fourteenth century until 1876 Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire and there still remains a Turkish minority in the country. The early years of independence were marred by political instability and by the misfortune of choosing the wrong side in two world wars. The post-war communist government did at least provide much needed stability even if its economic performance was dismal.
Following the collapse of communism Bulgaria had a hard time both economically and politically, from which it is now recovering. The currency is stable and linked to the Euro; the political system has settled down and is generally accepted as the best available and economic activity is improving. The GDP is growing at around 7 per cent per annum. Bulgaria is a member of NATO and joined the EU in 2007.