The Bulgarians

Historical Overview

The study of Bulgarian history begins with an important question: the origin of the Bulgarian people. Like other Southern Slavs, the roots of the Bulgarians are complex and debated. Historians have studied this for centuries, but there is still no complete agreement.

The most widely accepted theory, proposed by the Slav historian Jirecek, provides a clear picture. According to him, the Balkan Peninsula has been inhabited since ancient times by several different tribes. Among them were the Thraco-Ulyrians, Thraco-Macedonians, and Thraco-Dacians.

Around the beginning of the third century, the Slavs appeared in the region. They crossed the Danube River and settled in the broad plains between the river and the Balkan Mountains. Over time, the Slavs moved southward, forming communities among the local populations, including the Thraco-Ulyrians, the Romanians, and the Greeks. This migration continued for several centuries City Tours Istanbul.

In the seventh century of the Christian era, another group arrived: a Finno-Ugric tribe known as the Bulgars or Bolgars. They came from the Volga region, traveled across Russia, and eventually reached ancient Moesia, located between the Danube and the Black Sea. This tribe established control over the northeastern Balkans, blending with the local Slavs over time.

Through these migrations and mixing of peoples, the modern Bulgarian nation began to take shape. The Slavs contributed their language and customs, while the Bulgars provided political and military organization. The fusion of these groups created the unique cultural and ethnic identity of Bulgaria, which still influences the country today.