Bulgaria is a Balkan nation with diverse terrain encompassing Black Sea coastline, a mountainous interior and rivers, including the Danube. A cultural melting pot with Greek, Slavic, Ottoman, and Persian influences, it has a rich heritage of traditional dance, music, costumes, and crafts. At the foot of domed Vitosha mountain is its capital city, Sofia, dating to the 5th century B.C.
Bulgaria is a country situated in Southeast Europe and occupies the eastern quarter of the Balkan peninsula, being the largest country within its geographic boundaries. It is bordering Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the east.
Key Cities
Key cities in Bulgaria include: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Rousse, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Sliven, Dobrich, Shumen.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
The history of Bulgaria can be traced from the first settlements on the lands of modern Bulgaria to its formation as a nation-state and includes the history of the Bulgarian people and their origin. In the late 6th century BC, most of what is nowadays Bulgaria came under the Persian Empire.
The majority of the population are Christian, the main denomination being Bulgarian Orthodox Church with a membership of 59.4% of the population. Eastern Orthodox Christianity is considered to be the traditional religion in Bulgaria.
Brief Country History
From about 400 BC a race called the Thracians lived in parts of what is now Bulgaria. The Thracians were a tribal society and they were superb horsemen. They were also known for making beautiful gold and silver jewelry.
By 100 AD the Romans conquered Bulgaria. The Romans founded the city of Trimontium (modern-day Plovdiv). They also built the city of Serdica on the site of Sofia.
In 395 the Roman Empire split in two. Bulgaria became part of the Eastern Roman Empire (later called the Byzantine Empire). However, Byzantium grew weaker and about 500 AD Slavs settled in Bulgaria.
Then in 680 the Bulgars invaded led by their ruler Khan Asparukh. They were descended from the Huns from Central Asia. They crossed the Danube and founded the state of Bulgaria. They then intermarried with the Slavs.
In 716 the Byzantine Empire recognized the state of Bulgaria. However, in the late 8th century Emperor Constantine V tried to destroy Bulgaria – but without success. Then the pendulum swung the other way. From 809 Khan Krum attacked the Byzantine Empire. Led by Khan Krum the Bulgars were victorious. In 811 the Byzantine Emperor, Nicephorus was killed in battle. Krum had his skull covered in silver and used it for drinking. In 813 Krum even lay siege to Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium but he failed to capture it. Finally, in 816 Khan Omurtag made peace.
Finally, in the late 1980s, the Communist tyranny in Bulgaria began to crumble. On 10 November 1989 Zhikov was deposed. In April the Communists renamed themselves the Bulgarian Socialist Party. The totalitarian regime was dismantled. On 6 March 1990 strikes were made legal. However multi-party elections were not held until June 1990. The Bulgarian Socialist Party continued to hold power. However, state socialism was scrapped in Bulgaria. From 1991 controls on prices were removed and industry was privatized. Collective farms were dissolved. A new constitution was introduced in July 1991 and after further elections in October 1991 the Socialist Party lost power.
Today, Bulgaria is a relatively poor country and it suffered badly in the recession of 2009. However, Bulgaria recovered and today the economy is growing steadily. Today tourism is a rapidly growing industry in Bulgaria. Tourists are attracted by the beautiful architecture and beaches in Bulgaria. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007. Today the population of Bulgaria is 7.1 million.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
Bulgarian is the country’s only official language. It’s spoken by the vast majority of the Bulgarian population and used at all levels of society. It is a Slavic language, and its closest relative is Macedonian. Bulgarian is written with Cyrillic, which is also used by Russian and Serbian. Bulgarian language, Bulgarian Bŭlgarski ezik, South Slavic language written in the Cyrillic alphabet and spoken in Bulgaria and parts of Greece, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Important Types of Commerce in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country located in southeastern Europe in the Balkan Mountains region. The country has a rich heritage characterized by music, crafts, traditional dances, and costumes. The country is the 16th largest in Europe and also a member of the European Union. Its capital city is Sofia.
The economy of Bulgaria operates within a free market whereby the private sector forms the bulk of the market. The country was not shielded from the effects of the 2007-2010 financial crisis which resulted in a 5.5% dip in its economic growth rate. However, it quickly recovered by achieving a 0.2% economic growth in 2010. Much as the country experienced another season of weak economic growth afterward, the country has been experiencing rapid economic growth in the recent past. It has also been attracting significant amounts of Foreign Direct Investments since 2001. In 2014, the GDP of Bulgaria was $123.9 billion (PPP).
The Biggest Industries in Bulgaria
Categorized as an upper-middle-income economy by the World Bank, the biggest industries in Bulgaria are mining, industry, agriculture, and tourism as discussed below:
Industry Sector
The industry sector in Bulgaria primarily deals with metallurgy and machine building. In fact, the country contributes to the manufacture of about 10% of the hydraulic machinery used in the world. Regarding metallurgy, the metal processing of iron and steel began after World War II and has been operational to this day. However, over the years, Bulgaria has engaged in the processing of other metals as well. The processed metals include iron, lead, zinc, copper, sulfuric acid, and steel in different parts of the country such as Pirdop, Kremikovtsi, and Kurdzhali. Besides metal, other products manufactured include machine tools, caustic soda, nuclear energy, military hardware, munitions, food, beverage, tobacco, textiles, and sugar. Bulgaria’s major industrial exports include iron, steel, machinery, clothes, and refined fuels. Another big part of the industry sector is the shipbuilding business located in areas like Varna, Sofia, Plovdiv, Ruse, and Pernik.
- Mining Sector
- Agriculture Sector
- Tourism Sector
Language Services US and others will provide working with Bulgaria
Bulgaria is becoming an ever more attractive country for international business and language barriers, either Bulgarian or otherwise, may arise in a variety of settings. Language support is an important factor to consider in Bulgaria to alleviate these problems. Interpreters are required to cover all forms of interpreting for business meetings, discussions, hearings, international conferences, and other events. Moreover, Bulgaria’s exports to Germany, Italy, Greece, Romania, Belgium, and France account for two-thirds of overall exports to the EU. Bulgaria’s main trading partners from outside of the EU are Turkey, Russia, Serbia, and the Republic of Macedonia. Dealing with countries with a different language surely requires language services to bridge the language gap and ensure effective communication.
Looking for a Bulgarian language translation company? Look no further. American Language Services (AML-Global) offers certified translations, native interpreting services, and turn-key localization solutions for any language. Call us today @ 1-800-951-5020 for further information, visit our website https://www.alsglobal.net/ or for a quick quote click http://alsglobal.net/quick-quote.php
