The Provinces Left Behind

After the Treaty of San Stefano (1878), many Bulgarian provinces briefly experienced the light of freedom. However, the Treaty of Berlin (also 1878) reversed much of this progress. These provinces were placed once again under the control of the Ottoman Sultan, losing the independence they had just begun to enjoy.

The Treaty of Berlin did include promises that the Ottoman government would grant some degree of liberty and reforms to these areas. A draft plan for reforms was even prepared in 1880, but it was never carried out. As a result, regions such as Macedonia remained almost unchanged, still under heavy Ottoman domination, just as they had been before the Russo-Turkish War.

The Passing of Time

A little more than twenty-five years passed after these events. In both Russia and Bulgaria, anniversaries of the war and liberation were celebrated with great solemnity. In Sofia, plans were made to raise a monument to Tsar Alexander II, known as the Tsar Liberator, as a symbol of gratitude from the Bulgarian people for Russia’s role in their freedom Turkey Sightseeing.

A Nation Transformed

During this quarter of a century, Bulgaria changed greatly. What was once a Turkish province filled with misery and devastation became a young and flourishing state. The Bulgarian people, once oppressed and treated as second-class citizens under Ottoman rule, had now begun to show their talent for progress, education, science, and industry.

Signs of Progress

Many signs of modernization appeared throughout the country:

New towns were founded and old ones expanded.

Railways connected distant regions, speeding trade and travel.

Well-maintained roads linked even the smallest villages.

Telegraph lines showed the advance of communication.

Modern harbors were built, opening Bulgaria to international trade and maritime commerce.

In total, close to one billion francs were invested in public works. Yet the most remarkable achievement was not the money itself, but the energy, determination, and persistence with which Bulgarians worked to raise their country to the level of European culture and civilization.

In just twenty-five years, Bulgaria proved itself capable of rapid transformation. From an oppressed province under Ottoman rule, it became a country full of energy, ambition, and promise for the future.