Joanne Mattern - Bulgaria

Published in 2017 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC

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Copyright 2017 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC

Third Edition

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stavreva, Kirilka, author. | Quek, Lynette, author. | Mattern, Joanne, 1963- author.

Title: Bulgaria / Kirilka Stavreva, Lynette Quek, and Joanne Mattern.

Description: New York : Cavendish Square Publishing, 2017. | Series: Cultures of the world | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016052798 (print) | LCCN 2016054779 (ebook) | ISBN 9781502626097 (library bound) | ISBN 9781502626042 (E-book)

Subjects: LCSH: Bulgaria--Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC DR55 .S762 2017 (print) | LCC DR55 (ebook) | DDC 949.9--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016052798

Editorial Director: David McNamara

Editor: Kristen Susienka

Copy Editor: Nathan Heidelberger

Associate Art Director: Amy Greenan

Designer: Alan Sliwinski

Production Coordinator: Karol Szymczuk

Photo Research: J8 Media

PICTURE CREDITS

The photographs in this book are used with the permission of: Cover Travel Pictures/Alamy Stock Photo; p. Taratorki/Shutterstock.com.

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

BULGARIA TODAY

F OR MANY YEARS, BULGARIA WAS A MYSTERY TO THE WORLD. Because of its restrictive Communist government, most people could not travel there, and little was known about what went on inside the countrys borders. However, with the fall of Communism in the late 1980s and early 1990s, people have learned that there is much more to Bulgaria than its Communist past. Its cities and towns are a charming mix of ancient and modern, boasting layer upon layer of a rich and exciting heritage.

Bulgaria is a stronghold of Slavic traditions and language, where elements of a deeply rooted folk culture are preserved. It is also a land of mythical beauty, with a long and dramatic history. Its people are resilient and courageous. Over the centuries, they have risen above a succession of repressive empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. The influence of its multiple cultures can be tasted in Bulgarian cuisine, heard in its music, and seen in its ancient architecture. At the same time, Bulgaria is a part of the modern world. This blend of the oldest and the newest is Bulgaria today.

The physical landscape of Bulgaria is amazingly beautiful. It is a land of great diversity, from fertile, rolling plains to high mountains to the coast of the sea. Many different animals and plants make their home in Bulgaria, including many not found anywhere else. Unfortunately, years of heavy and poorly managed industry, combined with a lack of waste treatment and laws against pollution, have severely damaged much of Bulgarias environment and put many of the nations natural resources in danger.

A woman wearing a traditional folk costume enjoys a festival in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria also has a deep and rich history. Its location at the heart of Eastern Europe made it the crossroads for trading routes during ancient times. This easy accessibility led to a number of different ethnic groups and cultures coming to Bulgaria, creating a wave of conquests that led to a diverse population. A major part of the nations twentieth-century history was dictated by the Communists, who came to power after World War II, when the Soviet Union took control of Eastern Europe. Life was harsh and gray under Communist rule, but the Bulgarian people did not lose their spirit. By 1989, Communist regimes all over Europe were toppling, and Bulgaria began the uncertain but hopeful process of becoming a democracy.